「あ～このレポートさえ終われば外で遊べるんだけど….」
= Aah.. kono repooto sae owareba soto de asoberun dakedo…
= Ahh, all I have to do is finish this report and I can go out and play but….
Hello everyone!
Today’s guest teacher is this super cute Vinnie Sensei.
He will teach you how to use さえ ( = sae)
Vinnie Sensei よろしくね！
= Vinnie sensei yoroshikune!
= Vinnie Sensei, please go ahead!
******
はじめまして、Vinnieです。
= Hajimemashite, Vinnie desu.
= Nice to meet you. I’m Vinnie.
今日は初めてのレッスンですが、がんばります。
= Kyou wa hajimete no ressun desu ga, ganbarimasu.
= Today is my first lesson, but I will do my best.
So as Maggie Sensei said, I will teach you how to use さえ ( = sae)
How to form
★ noun + さえ ( = sae) = even ~
Ex. マギーさえ = Maggie sae
to emphasize more
★ noun + でさえ ( = desae)
Ex. マギーでさえ= Maggie de sae
to emphasize even more
★ noun + でさえも ( = de sae mo)
Ex. マギーでさえも ( = Maggie de sae mo)
★noun + other particle + さえ ( = sae)
Ex. マギーにさえ ( = Maggie ni sae)
Ex. マギーとさえ ( = Maggie to sae)
Ex. マギーからさえ ( = Maggie kara sae), etc.
★ verb
The form of the verb changes depending on the usage of さえ ( = sae)
(1) nominalize a verb
1) plain form + の ( = no)
Ex. 行く ( = iku) to go + の ( = no)
行くのさえ ( = iku no sae)
2) plain form + こと ( = koto)
Ex. 行く( = iku) to go + こと ( = koto)
行くことさえ ( = Iku koto sae)
3) verb plain form ( + こと( = koto) ) + other particle + さえ ( =sae)
Ex. 行くとさえ ( = iku to sae) , etc.
(2) verb て (= te) form + さえ ( = sae)
Ex. 行く(= iku) to go
行って ( = itte) + さえ ( = sae)
行ってさえ ( = itte sae)
Ex. する ( = suru) to do
してさえ ( = shitesae)
Ex. 来る ( = kuru) to come
来てさえ ( = kisae)
(3)
1) make ます ( = masu) form
Ex. 行きます ( = ikimasu)
2) delete ます ( = masu) and add さえ ( = sae)
Ex. 行き (= iki) + さえ ( = sae)
行きさえ ( = iki sae)
Ex. する ( = suru) to do
しさえ ( = shisae)
Ex. 来る ( = kuru) to come
来さえ ( = kisae)
**************************************
⭐️How and when to use さえ ( = sae)
1) even so much as, not even
noun / “nominalized verb (の ( = no ) / こと ( = koto) ) + ( で ( = de)) + さえ ( = sae)
(1) even, so much as,
Ex. このロボットは走ることさえできます。
= Kono robotto wa hashiru koto sae dekimasu.
= This robot can even run.
Ex. 現代は、小さな子供でさえストレスを抱えているらしい。
= Gendai wa, chiisana kodomo de sae sutoresu wo kakaete iru rashii.
= I heard even little children feel stressed.
Ex. １０年経った今でさえ、あの頃のことを思い出すと辛い。
= Juunen tatta ima desae, ano koro no koto wo omoidasu to tsurai.
= Even now after ten years, it hurts when I remember those days.
Ex. 日本語をまだ始めたばかりでひらがなを読むことさえまだ難しいです。
= Nihongo wo mada hajimeta bakari de hiragana wo yomu koto sae mada muzukashii desu.
= I just started to study Japanese and even reading hiranaga is still difficult for me.
Ex. 食費さえけちって旅行代を貯めた。
= Shokuhi sae kechitte ryokoudai wo tameta.
= I even skimped on food and saved up for the trip.
Ex. マギー先生は、犬語だけではなく猫語さえできた。(ニャー！(=^・ω・^)y）
= Maggie sensei wa, inugo dake dewa naku nekogo sae dekita. (Nya-!)
= Maggie Sensei could speak not just dog language but also cat language. (Meow!)
*even + quote
quote + と ( = to) + さえ ( = sae)
Ex. 彼女は僕のことを好きだとさえ言ったのに…
= Kanojo wa boku no koto wo suki dato sae itta noni…
= She even said she liked me…
(2) not even
Ex. 長年、英語を勉強していても自己紹介さえ英語でできない人が多い。
= Naganen, eigo wo benkyou shiteitemo jikoshoukai sae eigo de dekinai hito ga ooi.
= There are many people who have been studying English for a long time, but they can’t even give a self-introduction.
Ex. 簡単な問題でさえわからない。
= Kantanna mondai de sae wakaranai.
= I don’t understand even easy questions.
Ex. 日本語能力試験１級は日本人でさえ難しい。
= Nihongo nouryokushiken ikyuu wa nihonjin de sae muzukashii.
= JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) Level 1 is difficult even for Japanese.
Ex. 寝坊したので牛乳を飲む時間さえなかった。
= Nebou shita node gyuunyuu wo nomu jikan sae nakatta.
= I overslept so I didn’t even have time to drink milk.
Ex. 恥ずかしくて彼の目を見ることさえできなかった。
= Hazukashikute kare no me wo miru koto sae dekinakatta.
= I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t even look in his eyes.
Ex. 先生は、私の名前さえ覚えていなかった。
= Sensei wa, watashi no namae sae oboete inakatta.
= The teacher didn’t even remember my name.
Ex. 子猫は警戒してミルクを飲みさえしない。
= Koneko wa keikai shite miruku wo nomisae shinai.
= The kitten is so cautious and it doesn’t even drink milk.
Ex. 歯が痛くてお粥さえ食べられない。
= Haga itakute okayu sae taberarenai.
= My tooth hurts so bad that I can’t even have rice porridge.
Ex. 親でさえも彼がなにを考えているかわからなかった。
= Oya de sae mo kare ga nani wo kangaete iru ka wakaranakatta.
= Even his parents didn’t know what he was thinking about.
Note: You can replace it with すら ( = sura). すら ( = sura) is slightly more formal and literal.
☆not even + V + where/who/whether /how
V + かさえ ( = ka sae)
Ex. 彼がどこに住んでいるのかさえわからない。
= Kare ga doko ni sundeiru no ka sae wakaranai.
= I don’t even know where he lives.
Ex. 酔っぱらっていたので自分がどうやって家に帰ったのかさえ覚えていなかった。
= Yopparatte ita node jibun ga douyatte ie ni kaetta no ka sae oboete inakatta.
= I was so drunk that I didn’t even remember how I got home.
Ex. あまりに部屋が散らかっていてどこから掃除を始めたらいいのかさえわからない。
= Amari ni heya ga chirakatteite doko kara souji wo hajimetara ii no ka sae wakaranai.
= My room is so messy that I don’t even know where to begin cleaning.
Note :
You can combine さえ ( = sae) with some other particles. Basically, it adds the meaning of “even”
☆ particle に ( = ni)
Ex. 彼は子供に冷たい
= Kare wa kodomo ni tsumetai.
= He is cold towards children.
⬇️
に ( = ni) + さえ ( = sae)
⬇️
彼は子供にさえ冷たい。
= Kare wa kodomo ni sae tsumetai.
= He is cold even toward children
☆ particle と ( = to)
Ex. Vinnieはゲスト先生になってもいいよと言った。
= Vinnie wa gesuto sensei ni natte mo iiyo to itta.
= Vinnie said he would be a guest teacher.
⬇️
と ( = to) + さえ ( = sae)
Vinnieはゲスト先生なってもいいよとさえ言った。
= Vinnie wa gesuto sensei ni natte mo iiyo to sae itta.
= Vinnie even said he would be a guest teacher.
2) conditional さえ～ば ( = sae ~ ba) / さえ～たら ( = sae ~ tara)
if only, all you have to do is ~ / all I need is to ~ / as long as ~ / if you just ~
Ex. Vinnieさえよければ日本語の先生になってくれませんか？
= Vinnie sae yokereba nihon no sensei ni natte kuremasen ka?
= If it’s OK with you, Vinnie, can you be my (our) Japanese teacher?
Ex. あなたさえ側にいてくれたら私は幸せです。
= Anata sae soba ni ite kuretara watashi wa shiawase desu.
=As long as you are next to me, I will be happy.
(stressing あなた ( = anata) you)
:u:
Ex. あなたが側にいてくれさえしたら私は幸せです。
= Anataga soba ni ite kuresae shitara watashi wa shiawase desu.
=As long as you are next to me, I will be happy.
(stressing あなたが側にいてくれる ( = anata ga soba ni ite kureru) your being next to me)
Ex. パーティーには顔さえだしてくれればいいです。
= Paatii niwa kao sae dashite kurereba ii desu.
= All you have to do is to make an appearance (= show your face) at the party.
Ex. チケットさえあれば入れます。
= Chiketto sae areba hairemasu.
= All you need is a ticket to get in.
Ex. ミキサーさえあれば誰でも簡単に作れます。
= Mikisaa sae areba dare demo kantan ni tsukuremasu.
= All you need is a blender. Anybody can make it easily.
Ex. 授業に毎日出席さえすれば単位が取れる。
= Jugyou ni mainichi shusseki sae sureba tan’i ga toreru
= If you just attend the class every day, you can get credits.
Ex. お金さえあれば幸せというわけではない。
= Okane sae areba shiawase toiu wake dewa nai.
= It is not true that we would be happy if we only had money.
With verbs :
Ex. あやまりさえすればいいなんて思わないでね。(female speech)
= Ayamari sae sureba iinante omowanai dene.
= Don’t think just apologizing is enough.
Ex. 息子が学校に行きさえすればそれで十分です。
= Musuko ga gakkou ni ikisae sureba sorede juubun desu.
= All I need it my son to go to school. That’s enough.
Ex. 私がもっと家事を手伝いさえすれば妻も満足だろう。
= Watashi ga motto kaji wo tetsudai sae sureba tsuma mo manzoku darou.
= If I only help housework more, my wife will be happy.
Ex.
★さえ～ば〜のに ( = sae ~ ba ~ noni) / さえ～たら~のに ( = sae ~ tara~ noni) / さえ～ば ( = sae ~ ba)
Bring up what you don’t (didn’t) have/ what is impossible at the moment and express your disappointments, regrets or desire.
Ex. この問題さえ解けたら１００点だったのに。
= Kono mondai sae toketara hyakuten datta noni.
= If only I could have solved this problem, I could have had a perfect score.
Ex. 時間さえあれば一緒にVinnie先生と遊びに行けるのに。
= Jikan sae areba issho ni Vinnie sensei to asobini ikeru noni.
= If only I had time, I would be able to go out with Vinnie.
Ex. あと１万円さえあれば新しいiPadが買えるのに。
= Ato ichimanen sae areba atarashii iPad ga kaeru noni.
= If only I had 10,000 yen more, I could buy a new iPad.
Ex. パスワードさえ思い出せればこのデータが取り出せるのに。
= Pasuwaado sae omoidasereba kono deeta ga toridaseru noni.
= If only I could remember my password, I could get the data.
Ex. 辞書さえ使えたら試験に受かったのに。
= Jisho sae tsukaetara shiken ni ukatta noni.
= If only I could have used a dictionary, I could have passed the exam.
When you are talking about some status, you use
⭐️ Verb (て-form) さえ ＋ 〜ば/たら ( = ba/ tara)
= Verb (te-form) sae + ~ ba/ tara
= If only ~
When someone/something fulfills a certain condition, you will get a preferable result.
When someone/something fulfills a certain condition, that will be sufficient/good enough
Ex. あなたはそこで笑ってさえいてくれたらいいです。
= Anata wa soko de waratte sae ite kuretara iidesu.
= You just be there and smile. That’s all I need.
Ex. 静かにしてさえいればまた連れてきてあげる。
= Shizukani shite sae ireba mata tsurete kite ageru.
= I will bring you here again if you only keep quiet.
Ex. １日動かずに寝てさえいたら治るでしょう。
= Ichinichi ugokazu ni netesae itara naoru deshou.
= All you have to do is to stay still in bed for one day to feel better.
Note: Again, if you use this pattern with のに ( = noni) you can express your disappointment/regret feelings which didn’t happen in the past.
Ex. 彼女が私にそういってさえくれたらこんなことにはならなかったのに。
= Kanojo ga watashi ni souitte sae kuretara konna koto niwa naranakatat noni
= If she only had told me, it wouldn’t have turned out like this.
Verb+て+ さえ〜くれる・くれない
= Verb+te sae ~ kureru/ kurenai
=Even do something for me/ Not even do something for me.
Ex.彼は私の方を見てさえくれない。
= Kare wa watashi no hou wo mite sae kurenai.
= He doesn’t even look at me.
Note :
All you need to do is to do your homework
can be translated
⬇️
1) 宿題をやりさえすればいい
=Shukudai wo yari sae sureba ii
2) 宿題をやってさえいたらいい
= Shukudai wo yatte sae itara ii.
The difference:
1) You are talking about what you need to do from now. (focusing on the future action)
2) You are talking about what you have done and the future. (focusing on the current status)
Now we’ll go deeper.
⬇️
**
Let’s compare the following sentences, a) ~ d)
a) & b) gives a condition c) & d) shows regret for what you didn’t do in the past.
You stress the word before さえ ( = sae)
⬇️
a) マギー先生は宿題さえやったら噛みません。
= Maggie sensei wa shukudai sae yattara kamitsukimasen.
= As long as you do YOUR HOMEWORK, Maggie Sensei won’t bite you.
(stressing 宿題 ( = shukudai) homework)
b) マギー先生は宿題をやりさえすれば噛みません。
= Maggie sensei wa shukudai wo yarisae sureba kamitsukimasen.
= As long as you DO YOUR HOMEWORK , Maggie Sensei won’t bite you.
(stressing 宿題をやる = shukudai wo yaru = to do one’s homework)
********
c) 宿題さえやったらマギー先生に噛みつかれなかったのに。
= Shukudai sae yattara Maggie Sensei ni kamitsukarenakatta noni.
= If I only had done my HOMEWORK, Maggie Sensei wouldn’t have bit me. (Literally: I wouldn’t have been bitten by Maggie.)
(stressing 宿題 ( = shukudai) homework)
d) 宿題をやりさえしたらマギー先生に噛みつかれなかったのに。
= Shukudai wo yarisae shitara Maggie Sensei ni kamitsukarenkatta noni.
= If I only HAD DONE MY HOMEWORK, Maggie Sensei wouldn’t have bit me. (Literally: I wouldn’t have been bitten by Maggie.)
(stressing 宿題をやる=shukudai wo yaru = to do one’s homework)
OK, that’s about it.
犬の僕でさえ日本語が教えられるんだからみんなもがんばってね。 :)
= Inu no boku de sae nihongo ga oshierarerun dakara minna mo ganbattene.
= Even I, who is a dog, can teach Japanese, so you all should try harder.
I will be back here sometime. またね！= Matane! = See you!
****************************************************
マギー先生より= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
私はフレブルに弱いのでまたVinnie先生に近い将来、ゲスト先生として来てもらおうと思います。
= Watashi wa fureburu ni yowai no de mata Vinnie sensei ni chikai shourai, gesuto sensei to shite kite moraou to omoimasu.
= I have a sweet spot for French bulldogs for some reason, I will have him again as a guest teacher in the near future.
私が生きてさえいたら彼をデートに誘うんだけど…
= Watashi ga ikite sae itara kare wo deito ni sasoun dakedo…
= If only I were alive, I would ask him out but…
***
Will you be my Patron?
I appreciate your support! サポートありがとう！
80 Comments
Hello Maggie Sensei,
I had a question about the difference between まで, でも, and さえ.
I have some samples from my book, but it looks like they all can be interchanged:
でも – そんなことは子供でも知っている。
でも – 妹は初めて会った人とでもすぐ仲良くなる。ましてや、会ったことがある人だったら仲良しなのはなおさらだ。
まで – こどもまでわかってるよ
まで – 会ったことがない人にまで年賀状を出した
さえ – そんなことは子供さえ知っている
さえ – 毎朝電車で会う、名前さえ知らない人を好きになった。
I understand the meanings of them, I do not need a translation, what I need to know is when I should use either まで, でも, or さえ?
Hi Mark
でも and さえ can be interchangeable in some cases but I would say さえ emphasizes what comes before more than でも.
子供でさえできる＞子供でもできる
I won’t explain the whole difference here because it is going to be too long
でも – そんなことは子供でも知っている。
You can use さえ but まで is not natural.
If the sentence is like 大人から子供まで知っている曲 from adults to a children, you can use まで
でも – 妹は初めて会った人とでもすぐ仲良くなる。
You can use さえ or まで
まで – こどもまでわかってるよ
Actually さえ・でも will be more natural but they are interchangeable.
まで – 会ったことがない人にまで年賀状を出した
You can use でも/まで
さえ – そんなことは子供さえ知っている
You can use で
まで is not natural
さえ – 毎朝電車で会う、名前さえ知らない人を好きになった
You can’t use でも/まで
Mark
I’ve been answering your questions every day and it is great that you have been studying so hard.
Though I’d love to answer all your questions, allow me to take a break for several days.
Hello Maggie Sensei,]
thanks for your help, no problem, don’t worry I will not ask too many questions form now on.
I found a yahoo board that has answered my question about さえ and でも
https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1075132965
Maybe it can help your readers
Thanks
Good morning MaggieSensei,
Very interesting post!
A question arised to me. What’s the difference between:
彼がどこに住んでいるのかさえわからない.
And
彼がどこに住んでいるかさえわからない.
This question came to my mind since for examplo I’m used to say 行くかどうか instead of 行くのかどうか. I know の is used to turn verbs into noun, but why is it required here? And why is not joint to the verb in the かどうか expression?
Sorry if it is a basic question. I do really appreciate your help.
おはよう、 Pepa
You can also say 彼がどこに住んでいるかさえわからない.
の is added when you emphasize.
You stress the fact that you have no idea where he lives by adding の
1) 宿題をやりさえすればいい
=Shukudai wo yari sae sureba ii
2) 宿題をやってさえいたらいい
= Shukudai wo yatte sae itara ii.
The difference:
1) You are talking about what you need to do from now. (focusing on the future action)
2) You are talking about what you have done and future. (focusing on the current status)
^^^
Can you explain the difference more? What do you mean by (in 2) ‘ what you have done & future’? What is the ‘future’? What is the ‘current status’?
OK, for example, your teacher is telling you what to do.
1) 宿題をやりさえすればいい
The teacher is talking about the future (from now on)
(It doesn’t matter if you have been doing your homework or not.)
2) 宿題をやってさえいたらいい
It implies you have been doing your homework so keep doing that. (focusing on the current status and future)
I see! Thank you for explaining, Maggie-Sensei!
You’re very welcome, EL! ☺️
Hi Maggie-san!
I have a question
Is there a difference in the meaning between these two sentences:
彼は漫画さえ読んでいれば退屈しないようだ
彼は漫画読んでさえすれば退屈しないようだ
Thank you!!
Hello Spencer,
元気？
１）彼は漫画さえ読んでいれば退屈しないようだ
２）彼は漫画読んでさえすれば退屈しないようだ
The first sentence is OK but the second sentence should be
3) 彼は漫画を読んでさえいれば退屈しないようだ
The difference between 1) and 3)
さえ emphasize what comes before. So 1) is emphasizing “漫画” (not other books but it has to be a comic book) 3) is emphasizing 漫画を読んでいる (reading a comic book) (not other activities but reading a comic book.)
元気です！
Ah, I see!
Thank you for the crystal clear explanation as always! :) I hope you’re well too!
My pleasure!
元気でよかったです☺️
Hi Maggie, thank you for the lesson! I have a question about using さえ with verbs. What’s the difference between using the ます form (minus ます)+さえすれば and the て form +さえいれば?
For example, in the lesson you used:
１日動かずに寝てさえいたら治るでしょう。
Can you use 寝さえしたら instead? What would be the difference?
In one of my Japanese textbooks, I see:
まじめに勉強してさえいれば試験は大丈夫。
(As long as you study seriously, you’ll do okay on the exam.)
Why isn’t it 勉強しさえすれば? If it’s 勉強してさえいれば then shouldn’t it translate to “As long as you are studyING seriously, you’ll do okay on the exam”?
I understand the difference between 寝ます/寝ている, and 勉強します/勉強している, but for some reason using them with さえ is confusing to me. You explained it a little bit with your 宿題をやりさえすればいい/宿題をやってさえいたらいい example but I still don’t understand.
Also, you used two examples of さえ+くれる
彼は私の方を見てさえくれない。
and
あなたが側にいてくれさえしたら私は幸せです。
Can you say 見てくれさえしない and 側にいてさえくれたら instead? Would there be any difference?
I’m sorry for such detailed questions…but if you can help me understand, I would really appreciate it!
Hi Natalie,
masu stem + さえいれば
〜て＋さえいれば
OK, you say you know the difference but let me explain:
The dictionary form is one time action or just focusing on what one does.
Vている describe on-going action (is doing ~ ) or state (have been doing something)
寝る = to go to bed, to sleep
寝ている = to be sleeping
勉強する = to study
勉強している =to be studying, has been studying
見る = to watch, see, look
見ている = to be watching, seeing, looking/ has been watching, seeing, looking
It is possible to use both form depending on your perspective.
１日動かずに寝ている to be in the state of sleeping all day long
Since there is a word, １日, 寝ている is better.
If someone keeps working without sleeping or has a problem sleeping, then you can say
少し寝さえすれば治ります。
まじめに勉強してさえいれば試験は大丈夫。
勉強している here implies, “keep constantly studying”
If you are talking about simply whether you study or not , it is possible to say 勉強しさせすれば
For example, you never study but only if you study, you would pass the exam.
彼は私の方を見てさえくれない。
In this example, 見る is one time action.
But for example, if you are talking about “to look at someone for a long time” you can say 見ていて
I understand! Thank you so much for explaining!
You’re very welcome! :)
Hello again Maggie! Two comments in such a short time :>
I had a question about the “As long as” section. How would you use it in negative sentences or would you use 限り?
このレッスンで僕の読んだことを踏まえてネガティブ文章の中で「as long as」を使いたいなら「さえーば」を使うべきだと思いませんね。
以上の文章の文法は可でしょうかな？
そうしてマギー先生のレッスンを読むたびに僕の日本語への勉強情熱が火みたいに点火します。
前もってありがとうございます。
Hello again, Dubz!
You can use 限り “as long as” in negative sentence.
諦めない限り夢はかないます。( As long as you don’t give up, your dream will come true.)
If you want to use さえ〜ば, you say
諦めさえしなければ夢はかなります。
日本語への勉強の火を消さないでね〜😊
Hi Maggie, thank you so much for this amazing lesson!
I wrote some sentences to practice, could you tell me if they are correct?
１）息子は部屋を掃除さえしなかった。
２）息子は掃除をやることさえすればいい。
３）息子は部屋さえすればいい。
４）部屋を掃除してさえしたらいいのに。
Maggie Sensei, I don’t understand when I should use （verb masu steam+さえ）
Hi Eliza
Let me change a little to sound more natural.
１）息子は部屋を掃除さえしなかった。 OK
２）息子は掃除をやることさえすればいい。 掃除さえすればいい is more natural.
３）息子は部屋さえすればいい。 →You need a verb. 部屋さえ掃除すればいい
４）部屋を掃除してさえしたらいいのに。 部屋を (or 部屋の) 掃除さえしたら (or すれば） いいのに
Maggie Sensei thank you so much for your answer!
You’re very welcome. 💕
Hi maggie sensei,
About the word ~sura that you’ve said similar to ~sae.
I’ve tried to study that word next, but can’t get the difference between ~de sura and ~sura(only).
Can you lightly explain and with some examples, it would really help me.
Thank you
Hi Leo
ですら すら
You add で when you emphasize what comes before, EVEN ~ ,but basically the meaning is the same and a lot of time, they are interchangeable.
However you don’t use ですら after another particle
Ex. 彼はそのことを私にすら言わなかった。
Xですら
Ex. 家族にすら冷たい。
Xですら
Because if there are more than two particles, it gets confusing.
Also for example, when you use after verb+こと ~（し）ない, you don’t use ですら
疑うことすらしない。
X ですら
そんなことは私ですら知っている。
Sorry sensei,
I didn’t get the you dont use “desura” after another particle part.
Especially on these examples,
彼はそのことを私にすら言わなかった。
how come you can’t use “desura” here,
そんなことは私ですら知っている。
But can in here.
What I meant was
私ですら知っている
this sentence already has a particle で
So you can’t use に and で together
私でにすら知っている。(wrong)
私にですら知っている。(wrong)
Ohhhh!!!
Thank you so much sensei!!
I really want to learn nihongo, just that I have difficulty understanding the sentence particles. So thank you really
No problem! ☺️
Can you please explain the difference in nuance between さえand もwhen used in an interchangeable context (子供でも出来る/子供でさえ出来る=Even a child can do).
Hi Nimanyu
They both mean “even a child” but さえも is much stronger than でも
EVEN a child (さえも） emphasizing the following action is so easy to do.
Thank you for the reply sensei :)
So I understood we can combine さえ and も to make them stronger.
But I am still confused of the difference in nuance of using only も and only さえ when each of them is used alone, like 走ることもできる・走ることさえできる.
走ることもできる ~ can also run. (It is simply listing what ~ can do. ~ can do one thing and also run.
走ることさえできる. ~ can even run. (So on top of being able to do something else or other good features, ~ can even run.)
わかりました！:)
ありがとうございました
よかった！ どういたしまして☺️
Maggie sensei,
Hello again :)
I’d thought that today I’m smart and no more question , but….(you know) ^^
Could you please teach me this point.
Is there any difference between the following 2 sentences I made.
(1) 彼は私の手紙を読むことさえしなかった。
(2)彼は私の手紙を読みさえしなかった。
Both sentence I want to emphasize “READ MY LETTER”. When referring to how to form sentence with さえ、I found 2 ways like that.
Would you help me that ?
Thank so much!
Don’t worry. The more you study, the more questions you should have.
Basically (1) and (2) are the same.
If anything, (1) is “reading action” and (2) is “to read” so, if you translate the difference, it would be something like,
(1) He didn’t even try reading my letter.
(2) He didn’t even read my letter.
Maggie sense,
いつもありがとうございます！
Feel like thing is clear now.
Love Maggie sensei :3
No problem!
Love💕
Maggie sensei,
Gomen :)
I have just said that I have no question. But now I have one ….
For this sentence
彼は子供にさえ冷たい。
Can I say ” 彼は子供に対してさえ冷たい?
Thanks Maggie sensei as usual.
Haha no problem.
Yes, you can say 彼は子供に対してさえ冷たい.
Thank you Maggie sensei for helping me this point :))
Maggie sensei,
Today I have no question, but I just would like to say
“The lesson is sooooo great”.
Thanks and love Maggie a lot,
Hi Maggie,
Thank you for another great lesson. I also read the こそ lesson and I am wondering, is さえ sometimes interchangeable with こそ since they both add emphasis? I know さえ means “even”, but it can also be for emphasis like in –
この問題さえ解けたら１００点だったのに。
What would be the difference between these 2 sentences?
1. この問題さえ解けたら１００点だったのに。
2. この問題こそ解けたら１００点だったのに。
And I just have another question about this intro..
「あ～このレポートさえ終われば外で遊べるんだけど….」
“Ahh, all I have to do is to finish this report and I can go out and play but….”
I thought that we use 終える to say “to finish something”, and 終わる is only used when something ends (e.g. a lesson, a song). So for this lesson I thought we would use 終える becacuse the speaker is the one completing the report.
Hi Dennis,
You use こそ to emphasize but
You can’t say この問題こそ解けたら１００点だったのに。
This is a conditional/hypothetical sentence and you don’t use こそ.
レポートが終わる The subject of the translation is “I” but actually the subject is “report”
When the report is done, I would go out and play but…
FYI 終わる is a special verb which you can as both intransitive and transitive verb
これで授業を終わります。= I will finish the lesson now.
I think I get the difference… 度もありございました。
I also noticed (from your examples) that unlike こそ, when you use さえ with verbs, it always has to be placed in between 2 verbs, right?
So either [te-form verb]+[さえ]+[verb] or… [verb stem]+[さえ]+[verb]. And then when you don’t really have any particular verb to place after the [さえ] you just simply default to using the verb いる, right?
Right. I am not going to repeat what I wrote in the lessons here but さえ is also used for conditional form.
VさえVば
そのことを知ってさえいれば
If only I had known that
You don’t say
知ってこそいれば
Sorry, after going through the lesson a few more times I understand now!
Oh great! :)
Hi, Maggie. I’ve come across this: sayonara, mada deatte sura inai. Since this seems to be the most relates lesson, and as I think there is more to this than only “sae” but I’m not sure, I wanted to ask you whether this usage has some other meaning. Thank you very much in advance and sorry for the inconvenientes.
Hello Alraisen,
すら implies much stronger negative feelings, than さえ. The meaning the same. Depending on context we have: even; if only; if just; as long as; the only thing needed.
1) な、なに？こんな簡単な漢字すら読めないっていうかよ = Wha, what? Don’t say you cannot read even that easy kanjis!
2) さようなら、まだ出会ってすらいない（のに） = Farewell (though) we haven’t even met yet.
ヨロシク
Hi Alraisen
おはよう！
It seems like 天人 already helped you while I was sleeping.
Thank you 天人 for helping Alraisen! 💕
Hello Maggie Sensei! i want to say something like this:
“If only you know how i feel”
So i made this sentence: どう感じてるかわかってくれさえすればいいのに。
1.Is that sentence correct?
2. If correct, is it possible to shorten it? i just felt that sentence is a bit too long.
Hi Rarow,
Nice try,
どう感じてるかわかってくれさえすればいいのに。
is fine.
You could shorten it in a couple of ways but how about
気持ちをわかってくれさえしたら..
どう感じているか→気持ち
くれさえすればいいのに→くれさえしたら (It is unfinished sentence but you often finish the sentence like this and the readers can read between the lines.)
In casual speech you can attach a suffix, な（あ）
気持ちをわかってくれさえしたらなあ。
わかりました！教えてくださってありがとうございました！
どういたしまして、Rarow! :)
こんにちは！
「煙たい」というところで翻訳が逆じゃないですか。
レッスンは間違いないで、役に立ちます！
こんにちは！
“煙たい” はこのレッスンの例文にありましたか？
〜たいのレッスンのことかなあ。。。
Ex. あの先生は生徒に煙たがられている。
= Ano sensei wa seito ni kemutagararete iru.
= The students get annoyed by the teacher.
こんにちは！
「煙たい」の、「あの先生は生徒に煙たがられている」という例文です！英語の翻訳は逆じゃないですか？
日本語は受け身なので英語の訳と違うような印象を受けるかもしれませんが、「煙たがられる」には「嫌がられる」／「敬遠される」という意味があります。
「あの先生は生徒に煙たがられている」
= 生徒はあの先生を嫌がっている
= 生徒はあの先生に嫌な思いをさせられている
The students get annoyed by the teacher.
ということで訳は逆ではありません。でもわかりにくかったかもしれませんね。
「敬遠されている」という意味でとるともっとわかるかな。
That teacher is shunned by the students.
Hello Maggie sensei!
Thanks a lot for the lesson as well as all the other ones.
So easy to understand yet so useful and clever!
I would kindly like to ask if the concept of the phrase:
恥ずかしくて彼の目を見ることさえできなかった。
may be communicated with the following:
彼の目を見ることはできなかったほど／くらい、恥ずかしかった。
Thanks a lot! :-D
@Daniele
Hi Daniele
Yes the basic idea is the same.
彼の目を見ることはできなかったほど／くらい、恥ずかしかった。
→彼の目を見ること”が”できなかった is better.
難しいレッスンで今回は誤字さえ難しいですよ。
“Kyou wa hajimete no ressunn desuga, ganbarimasu.”
“ressun”
“行きさえ”
“shisae”
kanji says 部屋, so: “Amarini heya ga chirakatteite…”
I don’t know about comma in Japanese, but this one seems problematic.
“sae”
“行き (= iki sae)”
“しさえ (= shisase)”
“Amari ni ie ga chirakatteite…”
“Ex. パーティーには顔さえ、だしてくれればいいです。
= Paatii niwa kao sae, dashite kurereba ii desu.”
“Jugyou ni mainichi shusseki sase…”
“= Mikisaa sae areba daredemo kantan ni tsukuremasu.
絶望した! :)
= All you need is a blender. Anybody can make it easily.” Ok now I’m splitting hairs, but just because I’m curious, you have the word ミキサー for mixer and ブレンダー for blender and 混合機 for both mixer and blender, and yet you use ミキサー for blender too it seems…
And one question about V+ かさえ(=ka sae): In your examples, it’s always V+の+かさえ or Adj.+の+かさえ, so I wonder whether the の is always required.
よろしくお願いいたします
@Zetsuboumanadeshi
ありがとう！！直しました！感謝！感謝です！:)
As for a blender, what I meant was a kitchen appliance (to make a juice,etc). We call it ミキサー in Japanese.
Vかさえ and Vのかさえ
You add の when you emphasize.
こんにちは、マギー先生！素晴らしいレッスンを作ってくれてありがとう！文法は私の一番好きな勉強することですよ＾＾
質問が２つありますけど。
1. 「~V+かさえ」と「~V+のかさえ」の違いはなんですか？たとえば：
-親でさえも彼がなにを考えているかわからなかった。（「親でさえも彼がなにを考えているのかわからなかった。」と同じですか？）
-彼がどこに住んでいるのかわからない。（「彼がどこに住んでいるかわからない。」と同じですか？）
2. 「さえ」と「でも」は同じですか？たとえば、
-このロボットは走ることさえできます/このロボットは走ることでもできます
@Marianne
こんにちは〜Marianne!
1. 「~V+かさえ」と「~V+のかさえ」
-親でさえも彼がなにを考えているかわからなかった。（「親でさえも彼がなにを考えているのかわからなかった。」と同じですか？）
彼がどこに住んでいるのかわからない。（「彼がどこに住んでいるかわからない。」と同じですか？）
→はい、意味は同じです。「の」を使うことにより限定的な意味が強まると思います。(By using の, it specifies what you don’t understand more.)
2. まず、
1) このロボットは走ることさえできます
この文章は合っていますが、
2) このロボットは走ることでもできます
は、不自然です。
多分、Marianneが聞きたい「さえ」と「でも」が同じ様に使える文章は「名詞＋でさえ・でも」のことだと思います。
Even children could understand
子供でさえわかる。
子供でもわかる。
The same meaning but ”でさえ” is stronger and it often brings up an extreme example.
どうかなあ…
なるほどね。動詞の後にその意味で「でも」を使うのは不自然に聞こえるということですね。説明してくれてありがとう＾＾
@Marianne
どういたしまして、Marianne! :)
Hi Maggie sensei!
I’ve seen some sentences beginning with “tada de sae”, but “tada” has a lot of different meanings according to my dictionary. Which one would it be when used with “sae”?
@etoile37
Hello, etoile37
ただでさえ = on top of being already something is too ~, something else happens.
Ex. 電気代はただでさえ高いのにまた高くなった。
= Denkidai wa tadade sae takai noni mata takaku natta.
= The electricity is already expensive (and it got worse) and it got raised.
Ex. ただでさえ寒いのに雪が降った。
= Tadade sae samui noni yuki ga futta.
= It was cold enough (and it got worse) and it snowed.
Thank you for explaining!
@etoile37
You’re welcome! :)
先生、これは正しいですか。
『去年日本さえ行ったら暗殺教室映画見たのに…』
@ジャズ
こんにちは、ジャズ。
う〜〜ん、英語でなんと言いたいかもう一度教えてくれる？
Hi Maggie-Sensei. I’m a little but confused on the conditional part of this lesson. You said “2) conditional さえ～ば (= sae ~ ba) / さえ～たら (= sae ~ tara)
if only, all you have to do is ~ / all I need is to ~ / as long as ~ / if you just ~” but I can’t tell the difference between any of them. How do you tell what type of translation the sentence is?
＠Millz
Ahhh, OK.
Note: The difference between ば(=ba) and たら(=tara) is very complicated and I won’t explain the whole difference here.
1) Aさえ～ば(= A sae ~ ba ) + B
2) Aさえ～たら (= A sae ~ tara )+ B
A lot of time the translation is the same ( if only, all you have to do is ~ / all I need is to ~ / as long as ~ / if you just ~ )
Both 1) and 2) gives certain condition (A) to get the result (B)
But, I will show you the basic difference here.
↓
1) Aさえ～ば (= A sae ~ ba)+ B
To make B happen, you only need to fulfill the condition, A
Focusing on the condition, A.
2) Aさえ～たら(= A sae ~ tara) + B
Only when fulfill the condition A, B will happen/You will get the result B
Focusing on the result, what is going to happen after the condition.
As long as I have money, I can do anything.
Ex. 1) お金さえあればどこでも行ける。
= Okane sae areba dokodemo ikeru.
（focusing on the condition, having money)
Ex. 2) お金さえあったらどこでも行ける。
= Okane sae attara dokodemo ikeru.
(focusing on what you want to do with money)
Whooooaa I was starving for a sae lesson!! Very explicative! Thanks a lot!!
And, only to clarify my head more, can you show me another sentence using the te form with sae? I’ve read the last one “ikite sae ireba” but, can I say for example, “shukudai wo yattesae sureba ii” or does it have to be “yarisae” ? I think the yattesae sounds weird for that sentence, I mean, I see that -te sae more like the -te wa or something like that
Thank you !heart3!
@Lia
OK, I added more explanation on verb te-form +さえ(=sae)
Hope it clarify your doubts!
Thank you!! I’ve caught the difference. Arigatoooooou
@Lia
You’re very welcome, Lia!