〜さえ〜ば sae...ba

〜さえ〜ば（sae...ba）means “if only ...; as long as ...”. Singles out one thing as the only condition needed for a result: if just that one condition is met, everything is fine. Formation: V-ます(去ます)＋さえすれば／V-て＋さえいれば｜Aい→Aく＋さえあれば｜Aな＋で＋さえあれば｜N＋さえあれば

if only ...; as long as ...

N3

Formation

V-ます(去ます)＋さえすれば／V-て＋さえいれば｜Aい→Aく＋さえあれば｜Aな＋で＋さえあれば｜N＋さえあれば

Explanation

Singles out one thing as the only condition needed for a result: if just that one condition is met, everything is fine.

Examples

お金さえあれば、何でも買えるわけではない。
おかねさえあれば、なんでもかえるわけではない。
Just having money doesn't mean you can buy anything.
あなたが来てさえくれれば、ほかには何もいりません。
あなたがきてさえくれれば、ほかにはなにもいりません。
As long as you come, I don't need anything else.

Note

The verb pattern is 'V-て + さえいれば' or 'V-stem + さえすれば'; for nouns, 'N + さえ + あれば/conditional'.

FAQ

〜さえ〜ば — what does it mean and how is it used?

if only ...; as long as .... Singles out one thing as the only condition needed for a result: if just that one condition is met, everything is fine.

〜さえ〜ば — how do you form it?

V-ます(去ます)＋さえすれば／V-て＋さえいれば｜Aい→Aく＋さえあれば｜Aな＋で＋さえあれば｜N＋さえあれば

〜さえ〜ば — any usage notes?

The verb pattern is 'V-て + さえいれば' or 'V-stem + さえすれば'; for nouns, 'N + さえ + あれば/conditional'.

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