GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜すら
Emphasizes the extent of a situation by naming an extreme case that would normally be expected to be possible or excluded.
Examples
長い混乱の中で、正確な記録を残すことすら困難だった。
Amid the prolonged confusion, even keeping accurate records was difficult.
Words used
彼は自分の名前すら書けなかった。
He could not even write his own name.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Attach
すらto a noun or nominalized action to emphasize the extent of a situation by including even an unexpected extreme case. - Basic usage:
彼は自分の名前すら書けなかった。means that he could not even write his own name.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- こと for emphasizing an action
記録を残すことすらfirst nominalizes the whole act of keeping records withこと, then emphasizes it. The particle can also follow a noun directly, as in名前すら.
- Unexpected extent compared with も
名前も書けなかったadds that the person could not write their name either.名前すら書けなかったmore strongly highlights surprise that even this seemingly basic task was impossible.