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JLPT N1 Very formal / literary

~desura

Means 'even', 'as much as', used for emphasis in formal contexts.

Formal emphasis "even" - written/formal register, used for a striking example.

Formation

Explanation

「Noun + ですら」emphasizes 'even' in a formal or literary tone. It can carry nuance similar to さえ or すら but is used more in writing or formal speech.

Example sentences

  • He doesn’t even read the textbook, despite having a test tomorrow.

    Ashita shiken ga aru noni, kare wa tekisuto desura yomanai.

  • Even an expert can’t solve this problem.

    Kono mondai wa senmonka desura tokenai.

  • She ended up crying, even during the final speech.

    Kanojo wa saigo no supiichi desura naite shimatta.

  • He studies every day, but can’t even remember basic kanji.

    Kare wa mainichi benkyou shite iru ga, kihon no kanji desura oboerarenai.

Emphasis (Even)