すら
Even
Structure
Explanation
The adverbial particle すら conveys the meaning of 'even'. Its main distinction from も is that すら is used to highlight a particularly surprising or extreme case, implying that if the statement is true for this case, it's certainly true for all less extreme ones. It typically carries a negative or critical tone.
Being an adverbial particle, すら is positioned immediately after a noun, or a noun that is followed by a case-marking particle.
- 自分の名前の漢字すら書けないの？学校で何を勉強したんだ？You can't even write your own name in kanji? What did you learn in school?
- うちの犬ですら覚えられるのに、あなたはなぜ覚えられないの？Even my dog can remember that, so why can't you?
- 親友にすら言ってない秘密を、先生に教えるはずがないでしょう。I haven't even told my best friend that secret, so there's no way I'm going to tell my teacher.
For added emphasis, すら can be combined with も to form すらも.
- ひらがなすらも読めないのに、新聞が読めるはずがないよ。He can't even read hiragana, so there's no way he can read a newspaper.
Caution
さえ and すら are quite close in meaning and intensity. The key differences are that すら is generally more formal and cannot be used in the common さえ～ば (if only...) pattern. Additionally, すら often selects the most extreme example out of a wide range of possibilities, whereas さえ tends to highlight one specific, surprising item.
- お金さえあれば、何でもできると思っている。He thinks that if he just has money, he can do anything.
- あいさつさえできないなんて、社会人として問題だよ。Not being able to even give a proper greeting is a problem for a working adult.
Fun Fact
は, も, さえ, and すら are all adverbial particles that can be understood as existing on a spectrum. This spectrum relates to the level of expectation or surprise associated with an item (A) belonging to a certain group, as illustrated below.
(A) は - (A) is the standard topic, meeting all expectations.
(A) も - (A) is also included in the topic's category, which may be expected or slightly unexpected.
(A) さえ - (A) is included, but its inclusion is notably surprising when considered on its own.
(A) すら - (A) is included as the most extreme or shocking example, implying that all lesser examples are naturally included as well.
Examples
ゲームキャラクター（記憶喪失）：「自分の名前すら思い出せない…」
A game character (with amnesia): 'I can't even remember my own name…'
この新素材はダイヤモンドですら傷をつけることができない。
This new material is so hard that even a diamond cannot scratch it.
飼い主：「うちのインコは、簡単な挨拶の言葉すら真似できますよ。」
A pet owner: 'My parakeet can even imitate simple greeting words.'
姉：「弟は料理どころか、お湯を沸かすことすらできないんです。」
An older sister: 'My little brother can't even boil water, let alone cook a meal.'
ノベル、語り手：「彼は先生どころか親友にすら相談せずに会社を辞めてしまった。」
A novel, narrator: 'Without consulting even his best friend, let alone his mentor, he quit the company.'
テレビのナレーション：「彼は専門家ですら解くのが難しいパズルを作り上げた。」
TV narration: 'He created a puzzle so difficult that even an expert would have trouble solving it.'
自分の意見すらはっきり言えないのに、チームのリーダーになるのは無理です。
It's impossible for you to become the team leader when you can't even state your own opinion clearly.
赤ちゃんですら笑ってしまうような変な顔をして、みんなを楽しませた。
He made a funny face that would make even a baby laugh, and entertained everyone.
住所どころか電話番号すら聞いていないなんて、また会う気あるんですか？
You didn't even ask for his phone number, let alone his address. Do you actually plan on seeing him again?
何年もプログラミングを勉強しているのに、簡単なウェブサイトすら作れないなんて、本当に大丈夫なの？
You've been studying programming for years and you can't even make a simple website? Are you sure you're doing okay?
あんなに健康だった父が、今は一人で近くのスーパーに行くことすら難しいと聞いて、驚きました。
I was shocked to hear that my father, who was so healthy, now has difficulty even going to the nearby supermarket by himself.
プロの選手ですらクリアするのが困難なゲームを作るなんて、このゲームデザイナーは天才に違いない。
To create a game that even professional players find difficult to beat, this game designer must be a genius.