～さえ

About

さえ is a particle that can be used to express "even X", or "(if) only X". This entry will focus on さえ's usage as "even".

さえ's main purpose is to draw attention to what it attaches to, and indicate that said thing is exceptional in some way.

E.g. このコンビニ、おにぎりさえ置おいていない。 "There isn't even onigiri at this convenience store."

E.g. 料理りょうり教室きょうしつに3年ねん通かよっているのに、味噌みそ汁しるさえ作つくれない。 "Despite them going to a cooking class for three years, they can't even make miso soup."

さえ can attach to particles (excluding は・が・を), nouns, verb stems, and て form verbs.

E.g. 探偵たんていでさえ、その謎なぞは解とけなかった。 "Not even a detective could solve that mystery.

E.g. マイクは最近さいきんずっと隠かくし事ごとをしている。親友しんゆうの私わたしにさえ教おしえてくれない。 "Mike has been hiding something recently. He won't even tell me, his best friend."

でも can be used in a similar way to さえ, but でも can only be used with exceptional examples of things that have an "ordinary" counterpart (e.g. 週末しゅうまつ vs 平日へいじつ).

Summary

• 

  さえ is a particle that can be used to express "even X", or "(if) only X"

• 

  さえ's main purpose is to draw attention to something and indicate that it is exceptional in some way

• 

  さえ can attach to particles (excluding は・が・を), nouns, verb stems, and て form verbs