JLPT N1・N3 Grammar – The difference between “〜さえ” and “〜すら”
Table of Contents
1. The difference between “〜さえ” and “〜すら”
2. 〜さえ
3. 〜すら
4. Let’s Compare
5. Expressing minimum conditions
6. Formation
7. Summary
8. Quiz
9. Similar Articles
10. Comments
Q: Can “〜さえ” and “〜すら” be interchangeable?
A: Yes, they are basically interchangeable.
Both expressions are used to highlight an extreme example and show that, if that is the case, the others are naturally so as well.
However, there is a difference in nuance. Let’s take a closer look.
〜さえ (JLPT N3)
[Meaning]
～also / even (If that is the case, then the others are naturally so as well.)
[Rule]
[Ｎ] Noun＋さえ
[Examples]
もうアメリカに3年住んでいるのに、レストランで注文さえできません。
Even though I’ve lived in America for three years, I can’t even order at a restaurant.
⇒ Since I can’t even order at the restaurant, it’s only natural that I can’t do other things.
学生の頃は貧乏で、食べ物を買うお金さえありませんでした。
Back when I was a student, I was so poor that I didn’t even have money to buy food.
⇒ If I can’t buy food, naturally I can’t buy other things either.
のどが痛くて、水さえ飲めません。
My throat hurts so much that I can’t even drink water.
⇒ If I can’t drink water, then of course I can’t drink anything else or eat anything either.
〜すら (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
～also / even (If that is the case, then the others are naturally so as well.)
*Mainly used for unfavorable situations, and often carries the speaker’s feelings of surprise, unexpectedness, or disappointment.
[Rule]
[Ｎ] Noun ＋すら
[Examples]
もうアメリカに3年住んでいるのに、アルファベットすら読めません。
Even though I’ve lived in America for three years, I can’t even read the alphabet.
⇒ Since I can’t even read the alphabet, naturally, I can’t do anything else.
The speaker has a negative feeling about this fact.
今日は忙しすぎてトイレに行くことすらできませんでした。
Today, I was so busy that I couldn’t even go to the bathroom.
⇒ I can’t even go to the restroom, so naturally, I can’t do anything else.
The speaker has a negative feeling about this fact.
祖父は海外はもちろん、となりの県にすら行ったことがありません。
My grandfather has never been to a foreign country, let alone a neighboring prefecture.
⇒ Grandfather has never even been to a neighboring prefecture, so naturally, he hasn’t been anywhere else.
The speaker is surprised by this fact.
Let’s Compare
“〜さえ” and “〜すら” are both expressions used to highlight an extreme example and show that, if that is the case, the others are naturally so as well.
As seen in the examples below, they are basically interchangeable.
[Examples]
トムさんは日本で3年働いているのに、簡単な敬語さえ使えません。
トムさんは日本で3年働いているのに、簡単な敬語すら使えません。
Even though Tom has worked in Japan for three years, he can’t even use basic honorific language.
毎日練習しているのに、ひらがなさえ書けません。
毎日練習しているのに、ひらがなすら書けません。
Even though I practice every day, I can’t even write hiragana.
Even when they express the same content, “〜さえ” gives a more neutral and objective impression, simply stating the fact.
In contrast, “〜すら” tends to strongly convey feelings such as surprise, unexpectedness, or disappointment, as in “You can’t even do that?” For this reason, it often carries a slightly stronger negative nuance.
In other words, although the meanings are almost the same, the key to choosing between them lies in how much emotion you want to express.
Let’s explore more examples that include feelings of surprise, disappointment, or unexpectedness:
[Examples]
え、この時代にケータイすら持ってないの！？
Wow, you don’t even have a mobile phone in this day and age!?
⇒ The speaker expresses astonishment at the listener not having a cell phone.
忙しくて寝る時間すらないです。
I’m so busy that I don’t even have time to sleep.
⇒ This conveys a sense of disappointment due to the lack of sleep.
この問題は子どもですらわかるのに、夫はわからないみたいです。
Even a child understands this problem, but my husband doesn’t.
⇒ The speaker expresses surprise at the unexpected situation where the husband doesn’t comprehend something that even a child does.
When expressing minimum conditions
When expressing the minimum condition required for something to happen, only “〜さえ” can be used.
It is commonly used together with conditional forms such as “Nさえ〜ば” or “Nさえ〜たら,” so it is important to remember this pattern.
[Examples]
基本の英会話さえできれば、アメリカでの生活が楽になるでしょう。
If you can at least have basic conversations, life in America will become easier.
⇒ The minimum condition for life in America to become easier is “being able to have basic conversations.”
母の許可さえもらえれば、留学ができます。
If I can get my mother’s permission, I can study abroad.
⇒ The minimum condition for being able to study abroad is “getting my mother’s permission.”
Formation
Both “〜さえ” and “〜すら” can take the particle “で” before them, forming “〜でさえ” and “〜ですら.”
This “で” can be omitted.
When it is used, it most commonly follows subjects or numerical expressions.
[Examples]
最近の子供の名前は、日本人でさえ読めない漢字の名前が多いです。
最近の子供の名前は、日本人ですら読めない漢字の名前が多いです。
Recent children’s names often include kanji which even Japanese people can’t read.
のどが痛くて、水一滴でさえ飲めません。
のどが痛くて、水一滴ですら飲めません。
My throat hurts so much that I can’t even drink a drop of water.
These expressions can also connect with particles other than “で,” but they cannot be followed by “は,” “が,” or “を.”
[Examples]
× 事故でけがをしてしまい、歩くことがすらできない状態です。
I’m in a condition where I can’t even walk due to the injury from the accident.
× 忙しくて寝る時間はさえありません。
I’m so busy that I don’t even have time to sleep.
× 彼は自分の名前をすら書けません。
He can’t even write his own name.
○ 引っ越しのことは親友にさえ話していません。
I haven’t even talked to my best friend about the move.
Summary
[〜さえ]
- An expression that highlights one extreme example to show that, if that is the case, the others are naturally so as well.
- Its meaning is close to “also / even,” and it is used to state facts in a relatively objective manner.
- It can express a minimum condition in the form “Nさえ〜ば / 〜たら.”
- In the minimum-condition usage, “〜すら” cannot be used.
- It is more often used to indicate logic or conditions rather than emotion.
[〜すら]
- An expression that highlights an extreme example to indicate “also / even.”
- It tends to carry stronger emotion than “〜さえ.”
- It is often used to express surprise, unexpectedness, disappointment, or disbelief.
- It frequently appears in negative sentences.
- It is used when the speaker wants to strongly convey a subjective feeling.
Quiz
Are these sentences correct? Please answer with ◯ or ×!
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. ○
Tom knows many Japanese proverbs that even Japanese people don’t know.
* “Japanese” is in the nominative case, so it correctly takes “で,” expressing the speaker’s surprise at Tom knowing proverbs, hence it’s correct.
A. ×
わたしは日本の食べ物が苦手で、とうふすら食べられません。
I’m not fond of Japanese food, and I can’t even eat tofu.
*Using “が” before “すら” is incorrect
A. ○
Please come to tomorrow’s party if Tanaka san is okay with it.
*Since “田中さんがいいと思う” is the minimum condition for attending the party, it’s correct.
A. ×
雨さえ降らなければ明日ハイキングに行きましょう。
Let’s go hiking tomorrow if it doesn’t rain.
*When expressing minimum conditions using “さえ,” it’s either “さえ〜ば” or “さえ〜たら.” Since this sentence uses “〜なら,” it’s incorrect.
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