JLPT N3
さえ~ば
If only ~
Structure
Noun/Verb さえ ば/たら
How it works
This structure is used to express that a single condition is the only requirement for a desired outcome. Once that minimum condition is met, everything else will follow or become possible. It often translates to 'if only' or 'as long as'.
Examples
薬を飲みさえすれば、病気は治ります。
As long as you take the medicine, the illness will be cured.
お金さえあれば、何でも買えるわけではない。
It's not that you can buy anything just because you have money.
あなたさえいれば、ほかには何もいりません。
As long as you are here, I don't need anything else.
Common mistakes
Forgetting that when 'さえ' follows a noun that usually takes particles 'が' or 'を', those particles are omitted (e.g., '水さえ' instead of '水をさえ').
Tip
For verbs, replace 'ます' with 'さえすれば' (ます-stem + さえすれば). For example, '食べます' becomes '食べさえすれば'.
More JLPT N3 grammar
See さえ~ば in real Japanese
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