〜すら (~sura) — even ~

The stiff, written twin of 「さえ」— 'even something this basic', so the rest goes without saying.

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

N N（＋助詞） + すら

Verb V辞書形 + こと + すら

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

When to use it

Your first week at a new job is so busy that you write in your diary: 「昼ご飯を食べる時間すらなかった」— 'I didn't even have time to eat lunch.'
It sounds stiffer and more written — it shows up more in news, articles and formal talk.

Meaning

Time to eat is the most basic thing; if even that was missing, everything else goes without saying.
Giving one extreme example and letting the rest be understood is what 「〜すら」does.
It mostly comes with negative or surprising content.

How to attach

Straight after a noun: 名前すら
After a particle like 「に・と・で」: 親にすら
In the subject slot: 「ですら」: 専門家ですら
With a verb, add 「こと」to make it a noun — not 「歩くすら」but 「歩くことすら」

Versus what you know

N3The meaning is the same as 「さえ」; the only difference is that 「すら」is stiffer and more written.

Watch out

「さえ」's 'if only this, that's enough' meaning (時間さえあれば) does not exist for 「すら」— you cannot say 「時間すらあれば」.

Examples (उदाहरणहरू)

来日したばかりの頃は、切符を買うことすらできなかった。

らいにちしたばかりのころは、きっぷをかうことすらできなかった。

When I had just come to Japan, I couldn't even buy a ticket.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 来日したばかり = had just come to Japan → 切符を買う = to buy a ticket (a verb) → add 「こと」 to make it a noun → 「すら」 = even buying a ticket → できなかった = couldn't.

その事故のことは、家族にすら知らされていなかった。

そのじこのことは、かぞくにすらしらされていなかった。

Not even the family had been told about that accident.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) その事故 = that accident → 家族に = to the family (keep 「に」) → 「すら」 = even the family → 知らされていなかった = hadn't been told.

熱が高くて、水すら飲めない日が続いた。

ねつがたかくて、みずすらのめないひがつづいた。

My fever was so high that for days I couldn't even drink water.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 熱が高い = high fever → 水 = water (the easiest thing) → 「すら」 = even water → 飲めない = couldn't drink → let alone food.

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

「この秘密は、親友＿すら話していない。」— fill the blank.

💡 Hint: 'Tell to whom' — which particle does 話す take?