Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 3: 1/17

すらEven

Sometimes you can encounter 「すらさえ」in song lyrics, which is used to emphasize すら more. However, this should be avoided as it is not a common expression.

Structure

Noun + （Particle）+ すら（も）

Details

  • Formal

About すら

すら is an adverbial particle in Japanese that basically translates as 'even'. The primary difference between it and も is that すら tends to present far more extreme examples to which a specific rule applies, and therefore also applies to all other less extreme examples. In most cases すら will be used with a negative nuance.

As すら is an adverbial particle, it will be seen directly after nouns, or nouns followed by case-marking particles.

すら may also be followed by も in order to emphasize the point even further.

Caution

すら and さえ are relatively similar in terms of strength. However, すら is more formal and cannot be used in the さえ～ば construction. すら also tends to be the most extreme example from within a large group, while さえ places more emphasis on a specific individual.

Fun Fact

は, も, さえ, and すら are all adverbial particles that share a linear relationship in regards to the way that they are used. This relationship refers to the intensity of how (A) fits into a group. This can be imagined as follows.

(A) は - (A) is as expected, and there is nothing surprising about it.

(A) も - (A) also fits the category of the main topic (は), but may or may not be surprising.

(A) さえ - (A) also fits the category of the main topic (は), but is quite surprising when examined individually.

(A) すら - (A) also fits the category of the main topic (は), but is the most extreme example possible, thus implying that anything below that level also applies.

Related

Vocab Coverage

All Bunpro Vocab that appears on this item.

Examples

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  • マンガの迷(まよ)った主人公(しゅじんこう)：「何日(なんにち)たったのかすら...」

    A lost manga protagonist: 'I don't even (know) how many days have passed…'

  • 南極大陸(なんきょくたいりく)では夏(なつ)ですら気温(きおん)が０(れい)度(ど)以下(いか)である。

    In Antarctica, temperatures are below zero even in summer.

  • 記事(きじ)：「カラスは道具(どうぐ)を使用(しよう)する能力(のうりょく)を示(しめ)したことすらあります。」

    Article: 'Crows have even demonstrated the ability to use tools.'

  • ノベル、語(かた)り手(て)：「負傷(ふしょう)により、走(はし)るどころかベッドから立(た)ち上(あ)がることすらもできない。」

    A novel, narrator: 'Due to her injuries, let alone running, she can't even stand up out of bed.'

  • ノベル、語(かた)り手(て)：「友達(ともだち)どころか家族(かぞく)にすら説明(せつめい)せずに旅(たび)に出(で)た。」

    A novel, narrator: 'Without even explaining to his family, let alone friends he embarked on a journey.'

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