Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 3: 1/17

すらEven

Sometimes you can encounter 「すらさえ」in song lyrics, which is used to emphasize すら more. However, this should be avoided as it is not a common expression.

Structure

Noun + （Particle）+ すら（も）

Details

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    Formal

About すら

すら is an adverbial particle in Japanese that basically translates as 'even'. The primary difference between it and も is that すら tends to present far more extreme examples to which a specific rule applies, and therefore also applies to all other less extreme examples. In most cases すら will be used with a negative nuance.

As すら is an adverbial particle, it will be seen directly after nouns, or nouns followed by case-marking particles.

すら may also be followed by も in order to emphasize the point even further.

Caution

すら and さえ are relatively similar in terms of strength. However, すら is more formal and cannot be used in the さえ～ば construction. すら also tends to be the most extreme example from within a large group, while さえ places more emphasis on a specific individual.

  • そこさえ乗(の)り越(こ)えれば、あとは楽(らく)になるよ。
    If you can overcome that, everything will be a breeze.
  • そんなことさえ乗(の)り越(こ)えることができないのなら、この先(さき)何(なに)もできませんよ。
    If you can't even overcome something so simple, you won't be able to do anything beyond this point.

Fun Fact

は, も, さえ, and すら are all adverbial particles that share a linear relationship in regards to the way that they are used. This relationship refers to the intensity of how (A) fits into a group. This can be imagined as follows.

(A) は - (A) is as expected, and there is nothing surprising about it.

(A) も - (A) also fits the category of the main topic (は), but may or may not be surprising.

(A) さえ - (A) also fits the category of the main topic (は), but is quite surprising when examined individually.

(A) すら - (A) also fits the category of the main topic (は), but is the most extreme example possible, thus implying that anything below that level also applies.

Examples

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    マンガの迷(まよ)った主人公(しゅじんこう)：「何日(なんにち)たったのかすら...」

    A lost manga protagonist: 'I don't even (know) how many days have passed…'

    南極大陸(なんきょくたいりく)では夏(なつ)ですら気温(きおん)が0度(ど)以下(いか)である。

    In Antarctica, temperatures are below zero even in summer.

    記事(きじ)：「カラスは道具(どうぐ)を使用(しよう)する能力(のうりょく)を示(しめ)したことすらあります。」

    Article: 'Crows have even demonstrated the ability to use tools.'

    ノベル、語(かた)り手(て)：「負傷(ふしょう)により、走(はし)るどころかベッドから立(た)ち上(あ)がることすらもできない。」

    A novel, narrator: 'Due to her injuries, let alone running, she can't even stand up out of bed.'

    ノベル、語(かた)り手(て)：「友達(ともだち)どころか家族(かぞく)にすら説明(せつめい)せずに旅(たび)に出(で)た。」

    A novel, narrator: 'Without even explaining to his family, let alone friends he embarked on a journey.'

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