Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 5: 19/21

さえ
even

Structure
Noun + () + さえ
Noun + Particle + さえ
Verb + こと(1) + さえ + (する)
Verb[ます+ さえ + (する)
Verb[て]+ さえ + (いる)

(1)
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
さえ is a 副助詞(ふくじょし) (adverbial particle) in Japanese that is used to place emphasis on something existing in certain state. It is often translated as ‘even’. さえ has three primary meanings, which are as follows:
類推(るいすい) - Analogy, (A) is an outstanding example of something.
限定(げんてい) - Limit, (A) is all that is needed for something.
添加(てんか) - Addition, (A) compounds something that is pre-existing.
さえ is regularly paired with other particles and is often followed by verbs in negative form, with the overall meaning usually being determined by what part (B) of the sentence is conveying. Let’s look at a few examples.
  • 上級者(じょうきゅうしゃ)彼(かれ)でさえ出来(でき)ないのに、あなた出来(でき)るわけがないでしょう
    Even someone in the advanced class level can't do it, there is no way you can do it.
  • 彼女(かのじょ)は親(おや)にさえ知(し)らせず彼氏(かれし)結婚(けっこん)した。
    She got married to her boyfriend, even without telling her parents.
  • 彼(かれ)はストレスのせいで、晩飯(ばんめし)食(た)べることさえ出来(でき)なくなった。
    Due to him being stressed, he couldn't even eat.
  • タナカ君(くん)は酷(ひど)くない?彼女(かのじょ)傷(きず)つけたのに、謝(あやま)りさえしなかったらしいよ。
    Don't you think Tanaka-kun is a jerk? He hurt his girlfriend, but he didn't even apologize.
  • そんな放(ほう)っておいてさえたら、すぐ直(なお)るよ。
    Even if you leave it as it is, it will get well quickly.
In each of these cases, we can see how さえ is showing that (A) is an extreme example of something.
Fun Fact
は, も, でも, and さえ are all 副助詞(ふくじょし) (adverbial particles) that can be thought of as having a relationship toward, and away from what is ‘expected’ in any given situation. This relationship can be seen here:
(A) は - (A) is completely expected, there is nothing unusual.
(A) も - (A) will be included as part of what is expected, but can be unusual.
(A) でも - (A) may or may not be included as part of what is expected, and can be unusual.
(A) さえ - (A) is separated completely from what is expected, and is unusual.
Due to this unexpected and unusual situation that さえ always presents, it is regularly translated as ‘let alone (A)’, or ‘not to mention (A)’.
  • このレベルはプロでさえ難(むずか)しいというのに、よくできたね。
    I am impressed you were able to do this, let alone that it is difficult even for professionals.
  • トムこんな漢字(かんじ)知(し)っている凄(すご)いと思(おも)うよ。日本人(にほんじん)でさえ漢字(かんじ)は難(むずか)しいのに
    Tom, I think it is impressive that you know this many kanji. Not to mention that it is difficult even for Japanese people.
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富士山(ふじさん)の頂上(ちょうじょう)は夏(なつ)さえ寒(さむ)い
It is cold on the summit of Mt. Fuji even in summer.
[If a particle (like で、から、に、へ) is used with a noun, that particle will precede さえ. If the particle is へ or に, then the use of said particles is optional. This does not apply to は、が and を which are replaced (though をさえ sometimes appears in older literature)]
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そんな初歩的(しょほてき)なことは、子供(こども)さえ知(し)っている。
Even children know things that basic.
[子供でさえ is a very common phrase. でさえ is much more often used in this combination than さえ.]
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小(ちい)さい戦(たたか)いさえ私(わたし)はしたことがない。
I haven't even ever been in a small fight.
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Books
Tobira
Page 170
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 312
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 74