Japanese word

すら

Pronunciation

Romajisura

Meaning

  • particleeven

Example

自分の名前すら書けません。ji bun no na mae su ra ka ke ma se n

I cannot even write my own name.

Illustration for すら (even)

More examples

忙しくて、昼ご飯すら食べる時間がありません。isoga shi ku te hiru go han su ra ta be ru ji kan ga a ri ma se n

I am so busy that I do not even have time to eat lunch.

Core concept

Adds an extreme example to show that the statement applies even to something that would normally be expected.

Common phrases

  • 名前すらna mae su ra

    even one's name

  • 一度すらichi do su ra

    even once

  • 彼すらkare su ra

    even he

Similar words

さえsae: Marks an extreme or basic example to show that a statement applies even to it.
もmo: Marks an item as included in a statement, sometimes giving it unexpected emphasis.

Definition in Japanese

当然視される事柄を基準に、それより極端な例にも当てはまることを強調する働き。tō zen shi sa re ru koto gara o ki jun ni so re yo ri kyoku tan na rei ni mo a te ha ma ru ko to o kyō chō su ru hatara ki

Word origin

The native Japanese particle すら (sura, "even") has been used since classical Japanese, but the source of the particle is not certain.

Usage tips

  • Because すら (sura, "even") often appears with a negative expression, it can highlight that not even a basic or expected action is possible.

Word lists with this word