Explanation
Emphasizes a specific item or action; 'even', 'if only', 'as long as'.
Formation
Noun + さえ, Verb-casual + さえ, い-Adjective + さえ, な-Adjective + でさえ
Detailed explanation
The ～さえ grammar point is used to emphasize a specific item, person, or action, implying that it alone is sufficient, remarkable, or an exception. It can be translated as 'even', 'if only', or 'as long as' in English. The formation differs slightly depending on whether it is used with a verb, い-adjective, な-adjective, or noun.
Examples
Okane sae areba, sekaijuu wo ryokou dekiru.
If only I have money, I can travel around the world.
Kare wa eigo sae hanasereba, sono shigoto ga dekiru darou.
As long as he can speak English, he can do that job.
Kanojo wa atama ga ii dake denaku, undou mo jouzu da. Tenisu sae dekiru.
Not only is she smart, she is also good at sports. She can even play tennis.
Akarui basho de hon wo yomu no ga suki da. Heya no denki sae tsukenakute mo daijoubu da.
I like reading books in bright places. I'm fine even if I don't turn on the room light.
Practice
Grammar content sourced from hanabira.org.