すら / ですら means even ~ (with strong emphasis). It’s a JLPT N1 pattern that singles out an extreme or minimal case to stress that the statement holds true even for that case—often implying if even that is the case, then certainly for more ordinary situations. It is particularly common in negative sentences to express “not even,” but also appears in affirmative contexts to underscore surprising inclusion.
This grammar point appears frequently in formal writing, editorials, literature, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to add emphatic precision—especially to highlight an unexpected result or a stark minimum—すら is a pattern worth mastering.
すら / ですら pushes “even” to its emphatic limit—when a rule applies to the most unlikely case, the statement becomes undeniable.
What does すら / ですら mean?
Use すら / ですら when you want to say that even an extreme or minimal example satisfies (or fails to satisfy) a condition. The emphasis is stronger than the more common さえ, and the pattern tends to carry a slightly formal or written register.
Natural English equivalents:
- even
- not even (in negative sentences)
- so much as (when stressing a minimal degree)
Because the pattern frames an extreme case, the statement takes on an almost logical force: “even X does/does not apply, so you can imagine for the rest.”
How to form すら / ですら
Attach すら (or ですら, which only follows nouns) to the word or nominalised phrase that represents the extreme case.
The standard and safest patterns:
- Noun + ですら
- Noun + すら (without で; used in very formal or literary contexts)
- Verb (dictionary form) + ことすら / Noun + の + すら (e.g. 返事のすら)
In JLPT questions, distractors often present wrong attachment forms, e.g. attaching directly to a plain verb without こと.
When is すら / ですら used?
Use すら / ですら in situations like:
- Emphasising that even an extreme, surprising, or minimal case follows the stated pattern
- Writing editorials, critiques, formal exposition, or literary prose
- Expressing disappointment, shock, or irony when a basic expectation is unmet
- Creating a stark contrast between expectation and reality
Tone and register:
- Written, formal, or speech intended to impress
- Stronger and more literary than さえ; too stiff for everyday casual chat
- Common in JLPT N1 reading, essay comprehension, and grammar-scramble questions
すら / ですら example sentences
子供ですらそれぐらい知っている。
Even a child knows that much.
彼は自分の名前すら書けなかった。
He couldn’t even write his own name.
病気で水すら飲めなくなった。
Because of illness, I couldn’t even drink water.
専門家ですら解決できなかった問題だ。
It’s a problem that even experts couldn’t solve.
彼女は挨拶すらしなかった。
She didn’t even greet (me).
そのニュースは一瞬すら気にならなかった。
The news didn’t bother me even for a second.
Nuance of すら / ですら
The core nuance is extreme-case emphasis with a formal, often negative, shading.
- It frames the attached noun as a boundary case; if the statement holds (or fails) there, it is all the more true (or damning) elsewhere.
- Because of its written-register weight, using すら in casual speech can sound theatrical or sarcastic.
- When the sentence is negative, すら intensifies the feeling of lack: not just “even,” but “so much as.”
- In a positive sentence, it can carry an almost admiring or dismissive tone depending on context (e.g. “even a child can do it” might imply the task is trivial or the child is exceptionally smart).
If the nuance feels close to さえ, think of すら as the version you'd write in an editorial; さえ is the one you'd say to a friend.
すら / ですら vs さえ
Both patterns mean “even,” but they differ in register, typical sentence polarity, and collocations.
Quick swap check:
この問題は専門家ですら解けなかった。 ➜ formal, literary
この問題は専門家さえ解けなかった。 ➜ still correct, but slightly more conversational
Common mistakes with すら / ですら
Is すら / ですら on the JLPT?
Yes—すら / ですら is a staple of JLPT N1 grammar lists.
Typical JLPT tasks:
- Recognizing its emphatic “even” nuance in dense reading passages
- Selecting the correct form in grammar-scramble questions (e.g. ～ことすら vs ～ことさえ)
- Distinguishing from さえ, も, まで in multiple-choice items
Practice questions for すら / ですら
Learning path for すら / ですら
Related grammar to review next
- たはずみに / たひょうしに — because it also captures an instant or slight trigger, much like the minimal-case emphasis of すら
- すべがない — because it shares the idea of impossibility, often in the same negative formal contexts as すら
- たことにする / たことになる — because it deals with presenting facts as if they are true, sometimes alongside すら to highlight a pretense that even a minimal fact is accepted
- そこなう / そこねる / そんじる — because these “fail to do” verbs often pair with すら when describing an action that cannot even be attempted
Learn すら / ですら with Hane
If you’re ready to lock in すら / ですら alongside the related patterns above, Hane helps you practise Japanese in short, focused sessions—perfect for mastering nuance-heavy N1 grammar.
Browse more lessons here:
FAQ about すら / ですら
What does すら / ですら mean in Japanese?
すら / ですら means “even ~ (with emphasis)” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is すら / ですら on the JLPT?
すら / ですら is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice すら / ですら?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after すら / ですら, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.