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Formation: N + さえ (replaces が/を); N + other particle + さえ (にさえ, とさえ, からさえ); N + でさえ; V-ます stem + さえ + する; V-て + さえ

Gives an extreme example to suggest that everything else is obviously so too: if even X is the case, then all the rest certainly is. It is often used with negatives and in surprised or critical statements, and it can also mean "on top of that, even" when one thing piles onto another. It is common in both speech and writing. Compare 〜すら, which means the same but sounds more literary, and 〜だに, which only goes with a few verbs such as 想像する. Do not confuse it with 〜さえ〜ば, where さえ marks the single condition that is enough.

Variants: 〜でさえ、〜にさえ、〜さえする、〜てさえ

Examples

• この問題は専門家でさえ解けないそうだ。
  Apparently even experts can't solve this problem.
• 忙しくて、昼ご飯を食べる時間さえなかった。
  I was so busy I didn't even have time to eat lunch.
• 道に迷った上に、雨さえ降り出した。
  Not only did we get lost, but it even started to rain.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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