Ways to say "even"
さえ is "even", and the one to start with. It marks the extreme case, the last one you'd expect, and with a negative it is "not even". In conversation people often say the same less strongly, with も or でも. まで is "even" for a surprise on top of everything else, and すら and だに are mostly for reading.
| Form | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| さえ | "Even": the extreme case. With a negative, "not even" | Everyday; a little more written than も |
| も, with a negative | "Not even", less strong than さえ | Everyday |
| ても, でも | "Even if", and after a noun "even" | Everyday |
| まで | "Even": a surprise on top of everything else | Everyday |
| すら | The same as さえ | Mostly written |
| だに | "Even", only in set phrases | Literary |
さえ: even, and not even
Full pageさえ・
What comes before さえ is the extreme case: the easiest thing, the smallest amount, the last person you'd expect. What is true of that case is true of all the others.
He was so nervous that he couldn't even say his own name.
Even Tanaka, who is normally so calm, was against that decision.
If even Tanaka was against it, everyone was.
Even a primary-school child can solve this problem, and yet I, an adult, got it wrong.
After the one who does something, でさえ is common too, with the same meaning.
も with a negative: not even
Full pageもN5三時間も・
Plain も with a negative is already "not even" when it follows the smallest or easiest thing.
My throat hurts so much that I can't even drink water.
Everyday speech.
My throat hurts so much that I can't even drink water.
The same, said more strongly.
The same も is "not even one" after 一人, 一つ or 一度. After a verb's ます-stem, もしない is "doesn't even".
There isn't a single student in the classroom.
He complains without even looking at the documents.
見ます → 見もしない. It usually blames someone.
I never imagined I'd run into my teacher in a place like this.
思いもしなかった is a fixed phrase, with no blame in it.
ても and でも: "even if", and "even" after a noun
Full pageても・
ても after a verb or an adjective is "even if" or "even though": something happens, or is so, and the result is the same anyway. After a noun it is でも, the everyday "even": 子どもでも分かる, "even a child can understand". でさえ says the same more strongly.
Even if it rains, I'll go.
Even a beginner can take part in this course.
まで: even, on top of everything else
Full pageまでN4
まで usually means "until" or "as far as". After someone or something you wouldn't expect, it is "even": others did it, or other things happened, and this one is the surprise on top. も only adds one more.
My little brother ate the green peppers too.
One more thing he ate.
My little brother even ate the green peppers.
The last thing you'd expect him to eat.
The surprise may be a kindness you didn't expect, or one trouble too many. だけでなく, "not only", often comes earlier in the sentence. With a negative, "not even" is usually さえ or も.
She prepared not only the handouts for me but even the script for the presentation.
It's cold today, and now it has even started to rain.
Where it goes wrong
さえ is "even" and a ば-form is "if", but the two together are not "even if". さえ with a ば-form is "as long as" or "if only".
As long as I have time, I'll go.
Time is all it takes.
Even if I don't have time, I'll go.
"Even if" is ても, not さえ.
すら: さえ in writing
Full pageすらN1
すら is さえ as you meet it in newspapers, essays and novels. Out loud people mostly say さえ or plain も, and keep すら for when they want to say it more strongly. The one thing すら can't do is the "as long as" of さえ～ば.
He can't even write his own name.
Neutral. Spoken or written.
He can't even write his own name.
The same in writing, and stronger.
だに: in a handful of set phrases
Full pageだに・
だに is a literary "even" that you only need to recognize. Outside its set phrases, the written "even" is すら.
想像だにしないnever even imagine
No one had ever imagined that the day would come when she would tell the truth herself.
In everyday speech, 想像もしなかった.
微動だにしないnot move a muscle
Even in the pouring rain, the guard did not move a muscle.
In everyday speech, 少しも動かない.
考えるだに・思うだにat the mere thought
The mere thought of bowing my head to that man again is infuriating.
In everyday speech, 考えるだけで.
Other things "even" can mean
それでもN4
"Even so", at the start of a new sentence.
The doctor told him to rest. Even so, he went to work.
さらにN2
"Even" before a comparison, as in "even worse": something was already so, and it goes a step further. People do say さらに, but the plain everyday word is もっと, "more": もっと悪くなった.
I took the medicine, but my symptoms got even worse.
こそ is "this very one", not "even"
こそN3
Often taught beside さえ. こそ marks the one that matters, this one and not the others, where さえ marks the extreme case.
Today I really am going to finish the report.