Japanese from zero · N3 Lesson 20
Even, if only
〜さえ / 〜さえ〜ば ・ 〜こそ ・ わざと ・ 〜ずにはいられない
In this lesson, you will learn to say 'even' and 'if only' with 〜さえ and 〜さえ〜ば, to put strong weight on one word with 〜こそ, to say something was or wasn't done on purpose with わざと, and to say you can't help doing something with 〜ずにはいられない. After the typhoon, the town holds a clean-up day, and Lisa and Minju end up on the same sandbag team.
By the end you will be able to say
重くて、運ぶ ことさえ 大変でした。They were so heavy that even carrying them was hard.
ミンジュに 話しさえ すれば よかった。If only I had just talked to Minju.
今度こそ、ちゃんと 話そう。This time, let's really talk.
わざとじゃ なかったよ。It wasn't on purpose.
泣かずには いられなかった。I couldn't help crying.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜さえ / 〜さえ〜ば — even; if only — さえ marks the most extreme case (even X); with a ば form, さえ〜ば means 'as long as' or 'if only'.
- 〜こそ — this one, for sure — Word + こそ puts strong weight on that one word: 今度こそ (this time for sure).
- わざと — on purpose — わざと means 'on purpose', usually about something unkind or wrong done deliberately.
- 〜ずにはいられない — can't help doing — The ない stem + ずには いられない says you can't stop yourself from doing something.