〜さえ (~sae) — even

Not even the smallest, easiest thing — the extreme example.

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

N N + さえ

N N + でさえ

N N + にさえ

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

Meaning

「〜さえ」gives an extreme example — "not even this small thing": 「忙しくて、寝る時間さえない」= I'm so busy I don't even have time to sleep (sleep is the most basic thing, and even that is missing).
It implies "if not even this, then certainly nothing more".

How to attach

For a subject use 「〜でさえ」(「子どもでさえ知っている」), for a place 「〜にさえ」.

Versus what you know

N4It is far stronger than 「〜も」.
N3Don't confuse it with 「〜さえ〜ば」(if only) — that is a condition, this is emphasis.

Examples (उदाहरणहरू)

忙しくて、寝る時間さえない。

いそがしくて、ねるじかんさえない。

I'm so busy I don't even have time to sleep.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 寝る時間 is a noun phrase → attach さえ straight to it → ない comes after → it stresses 'not even something this basic'.

この漢字は、子どもでさえ知っている。

このかんじは、こどもでさえしっている。

Even a child knows this kanji.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 子ども is the subject → with a subject it becomes でさえ → 子どもでさえ → the feeling is 'if even a child knows it, everyone else surely does'.

名前さえ書けなかった。

なまえさえかけなかった。

I couldn't even write my name.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 名前 is a noun → attach さえ → a negative comes after → it stresses 'not even the easiest thing'.

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

「水＿飲めなかった。」— which says "not even water"?

💡 Hint: Emphasis on an extreme example.