N2 — outside your level filter
さえ〜ば
さえ〜ばsae baN2neutral
Same meaning14
only; nothing but
- ばかりnothing but; only everattaches at
- ばかりでなくnot only ... (but also)attaches at
- だけonly; justattaches at
- だけでなくnot only ... (but also)attaches at
- でしかないis nothing but; amounts to no more thanattaches at
- 以外other than; except forattaches at
- に限ってof all times/people — ironic bad luck, or a total denialattaches at
- に過ぎないis no more than; merelyattaches at
- のみonly; nothing but (written)attaches at
- 抜きでwithout X; leaving X outattaches at
- を除いてwith the exception of; excludingattaches at
- さえeven N (weaker cases hold too)attaches at
- しか〜ないnothing but; no more than (with negative)attaches at
- てばかりいるdoes nothing but do X (habitual excess, disapproving)attaches at
All examples9
if only you {V}, and that alone is enough — the deciding condition
少し待ちさえすればすぐ順番が来るよ。
sukoshi machi saesureba sugu junban ga kuru yo.
Your turn will come right away if you just wait a bit. casual
この単語を覚えさえすれば、試験は大丈夫です。
kono tango o oboe saesureba, shiken wa daijoubu desu.
You'll be fine on the exam if you just memorize this word. neutral
Nさえあれば — if only you had N, and everything else follows
お金さえあれば旅行に行けるのに。
okane sae areba ryokou ni ikeru noni.
If only I had the money, I could go on the trip. casual
時間さえあれば、もっと勉強したいです。
jikan sae areba, motto benkyou shitai desu.
If only I had the time, I'd like to study more. neutral
皆様のご協力さえあれば、このプロジェクトは必ず成功いたします。
minasama no go kyouryoku sae areba, kono purojekuto wa kanarazu seikou itashimasu.
With just your cooperation, this project will certainly succeed. formal
君さえいれば、ほかには何もいらない。
kimi sae ireba, hoka ni wa nani mo iranai.
If only I have you, I need nothing else. casual
Nさえ — the if-condition sits on the verb or adjective after it
太郎は漫画さえ読んでいれば退屈しないようだ。
tarou wa manga sae yonde ireba taikutsu shinai you da.
As long as he has manga to read, Taro seems never to get bored. neutral
給料さえ高ければ、こんな仕事でもいいんだけどな。
kyuuryou sae takakereba, konna shigoto demo ii n da kedo na.
If only the pay were good, I wouldn't mind even a job like this. casual
体さえ丈夫なら、どんなことにも挑戦できます。
karada sae joubu nara, donna koto ni mo chousen dekimasu.
As long as you are in good health, you can take on anything. neutral
How it's formed4
All forms2
さえすりゃsaesuryacolloquial
味わいさえすりゃ
brisk-spoken contraction of すれば→すりゃ, common in blunt advice — 謝りさえすりゃいいんだよ
さえ〜ならsae~naraalternant
なら in place of ば where the condition is a state rather than an act — 体さえ丈夫なら何でもできる, 値段さえ手ごろなら買う.