Meaning
"Just A is enough, and B will happen." さえ singles out the only condition needed, and ば shows the result. It often sounds encouraging — or regretful about the one thing that is missing.
Formation
- N＋さえ＋Vば: 時間がある → 時間さえあれば; 薬を飲む → 薬さえ飲めば (さえ replaces を／が)
- N＋さえ＋Aければ: 天気がいい → 天気さえよければ
- Vます＋さえ＋すれば: 押す → 押しさえすれば (✗押すさえすれば)
- Vて＋さえ＋いれば: 続ける → 続けてさえいれば
- Aく＋さえ＋あれば: 安い → 安くさえあれば
- N／Aな＋で＋さえ＋あれば: 元気 → 元気でさえあれば
When to use it
- Where to use it
- To say a single condition is enough for the result: 薬さえ飲めば治る, あなたさえよければ. And to regret the one obstacle: 家賃が安くさえあれば…のに.
- Where not to use it
- Not for "even" without ば: 子どもでさえ知っている is the other さえ ("even"). Not for listing several conditions — さえ singles out one.
Examples
20 sentences-
薬さえ飲めば、すぐ治りますよ。
Just take the medicine and you'll be better in no time.
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天気さえよければ、明日は山に登るつもりだ。
As long as the weather's good, I plan to climb the mountain tomorrow.
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このボタンを押しさえすれば、誰でも使えます。
All you have to do is press this button, and anyone can use it.
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子どもが元気でさえあれば、それで十分です。
As long as the child is healthy, that's all we need.
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毎日少しずつ続けてさえいれば、必ず話せるようになる。
As long as you keep at it a little every day, you'll definitely be able to speak.
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家賃が安くさえあれば、この部屋に決めるのに。
If only the rent were cheaper, I'd take this apartment.
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あなたさえよければ、今夜うちで食べませんか。
If it's all right with you, why not have dinner at our place tonight?
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無理さえしなければ、来週には退院できるでしょう。
As long as you don't overdo it, you should be able to leave the hospital next week.
12 more examples
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彼は寝る場所さえあれば、どこでも平気らしい。
Apparently he's fine anywhere, as long as he has somewhere to sleep.
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謝りさえすれば、許してもらえると思っているの？
Do you think all you have to do is apologize and you'll be forgiven?
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住所さえ分かれば、すぐに荷物を送れるんですが。
If I just knew the address, I could send the package right away.
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背さえもう少し高ければ、モデルになれたのに。
If only I'd been a little taller, I could have become a model.
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この書類に名前を書きさえすれば、手続きは終わりです。
All you have to do is write your name on this form, and the procedure is complete.
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このアプリを入れてさえいれば、海外でも無料で電話できます。
As long as you have this app installed, you can make free calls even abroad.
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部屋が明るくさえあれば、狭くてもかまわない。
As long as the room is bright, I don't mind if it's small.
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仕事が丁寧でさえあれば、多少遅くても問題ない。
As long as the work is careful, it's fine if it's a little slow.
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相手が誠実な人でさえあれば、年齢は気にしません。
As long as the person is sincere, I don't mind their age.
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あの時、余計なことさえ言わなければ、けんかにならなかったのに。
If only I hadn't said that unnecessary thing back then, we wouldn't have fought.
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休みさえ取れれば、一緒に旅行に行けるの？
So as long as you can get time off, we can go on a trip together?
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この問題は公式さえ覚えれば、簡単に解けますよ。
Once you just memorize the formula, this problem is easy to solve.
Important notes
- With N＋さえ the particles を and が drop out (薬さえ飲めば), while に, で and others stay: 彼にさえ話せば.
- Negative: Nさえ〜なければ "as long as you don't…": 無理さえしなければ.
Common mistakes
- ✗ このボタンを押すさえすれば… → ✓ このボタンを押しさえすれば… — before さえすれば the verb takes the masu stem, not the dictionary form.
- ✗ 家賃が安いさえあれば… → ✓ 家賃が安くさえあれば… — an i-adjective takes its く form before さえあれば.
- ✗ 薬でさえ飲めば、治ります。 → ✓ 薬さえ飲めば、治ります。 — でさえ means "even"; for "all you have to do is" use plain さえ.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
- ～さえ・～でさえさえ／でさえ without ば means "even" (an extreme example): 子どもでさえ知っている; with ば it means "all it takes is".
- 〜だけだけ〜ば means "only A, nothing else"; さえ〜ば stresses that A is the one missing condition and the rest will follow.
- 〜ばPlain ば is any condition; さえ adds "this alone is enough".
- 〜ならなら picks up a topic (薬なら駅前の店がいい) and carries no sense of "enough".
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