～さえ～ば
〜sae ~ba
JLPT N2 Neutral
Formation
Noun + さえ + Verb-conditional / Verb-ますstem + さえすれば / etc. (varies by part of speech)
Expresses that, as long as a certain condition is met, something else will follow; 'if only', 'provided that'.
When to use
"If only X, then Y would follow" - a conditional wish, not necessarily regretful.
Explanation
The ～さえ～ば grammar point is used to indicate that if a certain single condition is fulfilled, everything else will be fine or a certain result will occur. It often translates as 'as long as...' or 'if only...'.
Example sentences
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As long as I have money, I’m happy.
Okane sae areba, shiawase desu.
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If only I pass the exam, I can graduate.
Shiken ni goukaku shi sae sureba, sotsugyou dekimasu.
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As long as I eat plenty of vegetables, my mother will be happy.
Yasai sae takusan tabereba, haha wa yorokobimasu.
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As long as my transportation costs are covered, I’ll go anywhere.
Koutsuuhi sae shiharatte moraereba, doko e demo ikimasu.
Wish And Hope (I Hope / If Only)
- ～ものなら〜mono naraN2Expresses a conditional wish or unlikely possibility; 'if…
- ～ば～のに〜ba 〜noniN3Expresses regret or dissatisfaction; 'if only', 'wish'.
- ～ば～ものを～ba～mono oN1Expresses regret or a missed opportunity: 'if only', 'had…
- ～といいなあ〜to ii naaN3Express a wish or hope; 'it would be nice if', 'I hope…
- ～ばよかった〜ba yokattaN3Express a sense of regret; 'I wish', 'it would have been…
- ～ますように〜masu you niN3Used to express a wish or hope for oneself or someone else.
- どうにか～ないものかdō ni ka ~ nai mono kaN2Express a strong desire or wish for something to be…
- Verb ないものだろうかVerb nai mono darou kaN1Expressing hope or wonder if something can be done: 'Isn't…
Corpus examples (60)
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You have only to read a few more pages.
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We'll be fine as long as we have money.
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You have only to sweep the floor.
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Tom doesn't even know how to make a cup of tea.
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She can even tell lies!
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She is ignorant of even the simplest facts about science.
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You have only to read a few pages of this book.
メアリーはフランス語を読むことさえできない、まして話すことはできない。
Mary can't even read French, much less speak it.
彼がここにいさえすればなあ。
I'm disappointed that he's not here.
フランス語は読むことさえ出来ないのです。まして話すことなどとても出来ません。
I can't even read French, much less speak it.
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If only I could speak French.
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I wish I had the chance to learn Russian.
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As long as we love each other, we'll be all right.
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He did not so much as greet the manager.
挨拶さえしなかった。
He didn't even say hello.
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You may only borrow my camera if you are careful with it.
インターネットを使って異国語を学ぶものがいる一方、一日1$以下で暮らし自国語さえ読めないものがいる。
While there are some people who use the Internet to learn foreign languages, there are others, living on less than a dollar a day, who cannot even read their own language.
私は私以外に誰も彼の名前さえ覚えていないではないかと疑問に思う。
I doubt if anyone even remembers his name now, except for me.
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This is all I need to know.
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I will go, provided the weather is clear.
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I couldn't even see one meter in front of me!
頑張れさえすれば体力や知力がなくても何でもできるという一種の精神主義もある。
There is also one type of idealism that says even without strength or intelligence you can do anything if you can merely persist.
日本人の中には、小学生になっても両親と一緒に寝ているものさえいる。
Some Japanese may continue to sleep with both parents even during elementary school days.
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You have only to set out on a trip by yourself.
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All you have to do is try hard to master English.