N1Pattern 21

〜すら/〜ですら

Formula:

N

Examples & key points

専門(せんもん)家(か)ですら分(わ)からない問題(もんだい)です。

Senmonka de sura wakaranai mondai desu.

A problem even the experts cannot solve.

すら is the written さえ, naming the most extreme case

自分(じぶん)の名前(なまえ)すら書(か)けませんでした。

Jibun no namae sura kakemasen deshita.

He could not even write his own name.

A negative nearly always follows, throwing the extreme into relief

さえ より硬(かた)く、論説(ろんせつ)に向(む)きます。

Sae yori kataku, ronsetsu ni mukimasu.

Stiffer than さえ, and suited to commentary.

Speech takes さえ; writing can take すら

Play
1.00x
21/62