〜さえ
Formation
N3
Variations
さえも
でさえ
Meaning
Used for emphasis to suggest that if even a simple or extreme case is true, then other cases are obviously true as well. It often contains a sense of surprise or disappointment.
Examples
忙しくて、昼ご飯を食べる時間さえなかった。
I was so busy that I didn't even have time to eat lunch.
自分の名前さえ書けない子供が増えている。
The number of children who cannot even write their own names is increasing.
ひらがなさえ読めないのに、漢字が読めるわけがない。
If you can't even read hiragana, there's no way you can read kanji.
プロの選手でさえ、このコースは難しいと言う。
Even professional players say this course is difficult.
この問題は、先生にさえ解けなかった。
Even the teacher could not solve this problem.
彼は、自分の子供にさえも会おうとしない。
He doesn't even try to meet his own children.