“〜de sae・de sura”: Even 〜 (citing an extreme example for emphasis) [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

“Even a genius can fail” — citing the most unexpected case to stress how far it goes

「専門家ですら間違える」 — if even the least likely is so, how much more …

「この問題は難しくて、専門家ですら間違える」 (this problem is so hard that even experts get it wrong) — 「〜でさえ／〜ですら」 expresses “even ～”: citing a most extreme, least-likely example so you infer “if even this is so, needless to say the rest.” This guide focuses on the emphatic pair 「でさえ・ですら」 — their attachment, 「すら」's written weight, the role of 「で」 — separating them from the colloquial 「さえ」 and 「でも」 (N2).

Core: even ～ (cite an extreme example, infer the whole)

「(noun) ＋ でさえ／ですら」 = “even ～” — deliberately citing a least-likely, most surprising target, implying “if even it is so, of course the rest is too”:

• 大人でさえ解けない問題を、子供が解いた (a child solved a problem even adults can't).
• そんなことは、子供ですら知っている (even a child knows such a thing).

Feel: “even ～” — the core is “cite an extreme example to imply the whole”: pick a target that logically should least, could least (an expert, an adult, a genius), point out “even it …,” and let the listener supply “how much more the rest.” 「ですら」 is more written, heavier than 「でさえ」.

Attachment & the role of 「で」

Example sentences

• プロでさえ緊張する舞台だ。(It's a stage where even professionals get nervous.)
• 一流の学者ですら、答えられない難問だ。(It's a hard question even top scholars can't answer.)
• 疲れすぎて、立つことでさえつらい。(I'm so tired that even standing is painful.)
• 近所の人の名前すら、覚えていない。(I don't even remember my neighbors' names.) — すら alone
• 自分の親にさえ、本音を言えない。(I can't voice my true feelings even to my own parents.) — に ＋ さえ

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「でさえ・ですら」 are the emphatic form of ‘even ～,' cognate with the colloquial 「さえ」. They share a core (both “cite an extreme example to infer”), differing in register and form. A subject/topic uses 「でさえ／ですら」 (子供でさえ); 「さえ」 is the family's base form (see 〈さえ〉). To stress “even (the least likely) it …,” でさえ／ですら are the most typical. (さえ's full use and its comparison with も・まで: see 〈さえ〉.)

② 「ですら」 is more written and heavier than 「でさえ」. Nearly the same meaning, differing in register. 「でさえ」 = colloquial～general (usable in daily talk and general writing: 子供でさえ); 「ですら」 = more written, stiffer, stronger (formal writing, emphatic tone: 専門家ですら). Use でさえ in daily talk; for formal/literary writing or added weight, ですら.

③ 「でさえ」 (even ～, extreme example) ≠ 「さえ〜ば」 (only if ～, condition). The same 「さえ」, different uses. でさえ = even ～ (cite an extreme example to infer, emphasis) (子供でさえ知っている = even a child knows); さえ〜ば = only if ～ (sole/minimum condition) (お金さえあれば = only if there's money). Test: is there a 「ば」 at the end? — with ば = only if ～ (condition); without ば, plain emphasis = even ～ (inference). Don't confuse “even ～” with “only if ～.” (さえ〜ば: see 〈さえ〜ば〉.)

🔄 Compare: でさえ・ですら／さえ／でも／まで

💡 Learning tip

「〜でさえ／〜ですら」 = even ～, the emphatic form of the 「さえ」 family, its soul citing an extreme example to infer — cite a least-likely, most surprising target (an expert, an adult, a genius), point out “even it …,” and let the listener supply “how much more the rest.” Three points: ① a subject/topic uses 「で＋さえ／すら」 (子供でさえ), the 「で」 highlighting “even this target”; ② 「ですら」 is more written and heavier than 「でさえ」 — colloquial でさえ, formal-intensified ですら; ③ don't confuse it with 「さえ〜ば (only if ～)」 — with 「ば」 = condition (only if), without 「ば」 = inference (even). さえ's full system and its comparison with も・まで: see 〈さえ〉; only-if ～ば: see 〈さえ〜ば〉. To strongly express “even the least likely is so,” でさえ／ですら have the most force.

❓ Common questions

Q: Do 「でさえ」 and 「ですら」 mean the same? When do I use which?

Nearly the same (both “even ～” extreme-example inference), interchangeable in most cases, differing in register and weight. 「でさえ」 = even ～ (colloquial～general, natural tone): usable in daily talk and general writing — 子供でさえ知っていることを、大人が知らないなんて (that adults don't know what even children know!). It's the commonest, most natural phrasing for this meaning. 「ですら」 = even ～ (more written, stiffer, heavier): seen more in formal writing, literary language, emphatic contexts — 専門家ですら匙を投げた難問 (a hard question even experts gave up on, reading weightier and stronger); 彼は自分の名前すら書けない (he can't even write his own name — 「すら」 heightens the shock of “can't do even something this basic”). So: everyday talk and general writing → 「でさえ」; formal/literary writing or added weight → 「ですら」. Both come from 「さえ／すら」 plus the subject marker 「で」, with an identical core use (extreme example); 「ですら」 is just more written and forceful. For a heavier “even … of all things” surprise or emphasis use ですら; otherwise でさえ suffices.

Q: 「でさえ」 and 「でも」 both render as ‘even ～' — what's the difference?

The strength of the “extreme-example inference.” 「〜でさえ／ですら」 = even ～ (deliberately citing a ‘most extreme, least-likely' example, strongly implying ‘if even it is so, how much more the rest,' strong inference, heavy tone): 天才でさえ解けなかった (even a genius couldn't solve it — citing “genius,” the target least likely to fail, to stress extreme difficulty); 一秒ですら無駄にできない (can't waste even a second — citing “a second,” the smallest unit, to stress every moment counts). It deliberately picks the most extreme to highlight degree. 「〜でも」 = even ～/even if ～ (can also cite an example to infer, but lighter, broader, with a weaker ‘extreme' feel, sometimes just a casual example): 子供でもわかる (even a child understands / children understand too — lighter, just “it's simple, even a child gets it,” without でさえ's strong extreme-inference flavor); 初心者でも大丈夫 (even a beginner is fine). Test: to strongly stress “even the least likely … (how much more the rest)” → でさえ／ですら; for a light “even …／even if …” (broader example, lighter tone) → でも. Often interchangeable (子供でさえ／子供でもわかる), but でさえ／ですら carry a stronger, more written “cite an extreme example, emphasize” flavor, while でも is more colloquial and neutral. (The さえ family: see 〈さえ〉.)

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「プロ___失敗するのだから、初心者なら当然だ。」（even a professional fails）

(A) でさえ　(B) こそ　(C) だけ　(D) しか

Q2. What kind of example does 「ですら／でさえ」 cite?

(A) The most extreme, least likely example (even this ~)　(B) The most ordinary example　(C) A random example　(D) No example given

Q3. 「専門家でさえ答えられない」の意味は?

(A) Even an expert can't answer (let alone others)

(B) Only an expert can answer

(C) An expert can surely answer

(D) No expert needed

Q4. 「すら」の語感は?

(A) The written-style form of 「でさえ」 (even ~)

(B) The colloquial "as long as"

(C) Indicates a question

(D) Indicates a command

Q5. 用法が自然なのは?

(A) 名前を書く時間すらなかった。　(B) でさえ子供知っている。

(C) 専門家でさえだ答えた。　(D) すら想像する。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) でさえ ── Even a professional fails (an extreme example).

2. (A) ── Emphasizes by citing the most extreme example.

3. (A) ── Even an expert can't answer (let alone others).

4. (A) ── すら is the written-style form of でさえ.

5. (A) ── 「時間すらなかった」 (didn't even have time) is correct.