immersionlog
Sign inCreate account

〜すら・〜ですら

even (the most basic)

Noun (+ particle) + すら · Noun + ですら

Sign up free to review this point on a spaced schedule.

すら means "even", pointing to an extreme or very basic example: 忙しくて、食事をする時間すらない, "I'm so busy I don't even have time to eat".

It's a more written, emphatic version of さえ (N3), and in most sentences the two are interchangeable. After a noun as the subject, ですら is common: 専門家ですら、この問題は難しい, "even experts find this problem hard".

It's most common with negatives: not even the minimum is possible, like 名前すら書けない or 歩くことすらできない. After a verb, turn it into a noun with こと: 聞いたことすらない.

Compare だけ, "only", and まで, "even (that far)", which extends upward instead of pointing to the bare minimum.

Examples

  • 忙いそがしくて、食事しょくじをする時間じかんすらない。

    I'm so busy I don't even have time to eat.

  • 彼かれは自分じぶんの名前なまえすら書かけない。

    He can't even write his own name.

  • 専門家せんもんかですら、この問題もんだいは難むずかしい。

    Even experts find this problem hard.

  • 足あしが痛いたくて、歩あるくことすらできない。

    My leg hurts so much I can't even walk.

  • そんな話はなしは聞きいたことすらない。

    I've never even heard of such a thing.

Related