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〜さえ〜ば

as long as, if only

Noun + さえ + ば-form · Verb ます-stem + さえすれば

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さえ〜ば says one condition is all it takes: お金さえあれば、何でも買える, "as long as you have money, you can buy anything".

The さえ marks the one thing that matters, and the verb or adjective after it goes into the ば-form: 時間さえあれば, "if only I had the time"; 天気さえよければ, "as long as the weather's good".

With a verb as the key condition, use the ます-stem + さえすれば: この薬を飲みさえすれば、治ります, "as long as you take this medicine, you'll get better". With a て-form, it's てさえいれば.

Depending on context, it's either reassurance ("all you need is…") or a wistful wish ("if only…").

Examples

  • お金かねさえあれば、何なんでも買かえる。

    As long as you have money, you can buy anything.

  • 時間じかんさえあれば、もっと旅行りょこうしたい。

    If only I had the time, I'd travel more.

  • この薬くすりを飲のみさえすれば、治なおります。

    As long as you take this medicine, you'll get better.

  • あなたさえよければ、明日行あしたいきましょう。

    As long as it's fine with you, let's go tomorrow.

  • 天気てんきさえよければ、富士山ふじさんが見みえます。

    As long as the weather's good, you can see Mount Fuji.

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