さえ

Japanese

Etymology 1

From 添(そ)へ (sohe), 連用形(れんようけい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of classical verb 添(そ)ふ (sofu)(modern equivalent: 添(そ)える (soeru)).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) さえ [sáꜜè] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [sa̠e̞]

Particle

さえ • (sae) ^{←さへ (safe)?}

1. (emphatic) even

   犬(いぬ)さえ食(く)わない

   inu sae kuwanai

   not even dogs eat it

2. (when followed by a conditional phrase -ば/-たら) as long as

   ○○さえいればなんでもできる。

   ○○Sae ireba nandemo dekiru.

   I can do anything as long as X is there.

See also

• も (mo)
• すら (sura)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [sa̠e̞]

Proper noun

さえ • (Sae) 

1. a female given name

   宮(みや)川(かわ)紗(さ)江(え)

   Miyakawa Sae

   (name of a gymnast)

Related terms

• さえこ (Saeko)

Etymology 3

Alternative spelling
冴え

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) さえ [sàéꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [sa̠e̞]

Verb

さえ • (sae) 

1. imperfective and stem (or continuative) forms of さえる (saeru) [ichidan]