JLPT N1 grammar
〜すら — Meaning & Examples
"Even" — the formal/written さえ. 専門家ですら分からない = even experts don't know. Does NOT replace さえ in 〜さえ〜ば ("if only").
〜すら — "Even" (Formal さえ)
すら is the written-register version of さえ — "even X (let alone anything more)."
Pattern: [noun] (+ particle) + すら
専門家ですら、この問題は解けなかった。
= Even the experts couldn't solve this problem.
彼は自分の名前すら書けなかった。
= He couldn't even write his own name.
忙しくて、食事をする時間すらない。
= I'm so busy I don't even have time to eat.
〜ですら for people: 大人ですら難しい = hard even for adults.
すら vs さえ:
・Meaning: essentially identical ("even").
・Register: さえ is neutral; すら is formal/written.
・Note: さえ also appears in 〜さえ〜ば ("if only"); すら does NOT work in that pattern. ✗名前すら書ければ → ✓名前さえ書ければ.
Key feeling: Pointing at an extreme example — "even THIS (so of course everything beyond it)."
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on 〜すら. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. すら is the formal equivalent of which particle?
- さえ (sae)
- こそ (koso)
- まで (made)
- だけ (dake)
Show answer
Answer: さえ (sae)
すら = written-register さえ ("even"). 専門家ですら分からない = even experts don't know.
2. Which is CORRECT?
- 名前すら書ければ合格できる (namae sura kakereba goukaku dekiru)
- 名前さえ書ければ合格できる (namae sae kakereba goukaku dekiru)
- 名前だに書ければ合格できる (namae dani kakereba goukaku dekiru)
- 名前こそ書ければ合格できる (namae koso kakereba goukaku dekiru)
Show answer
Answer: 名前さえ書ければ合格できる (namae sae kakereba goukaku dekiru)
The "if only" pattern is 〜さえ〜ば. すら cannot replace さえ there — a classic exam trap!
3. 想像する___恐ろしい。 (terrifying even to imagine)
- すら (sura)
- てこそ (te koso)
- だに (dani)
- ばこそ (ba koso)
Show answer
Answer: だに (dani)
想像するだに恐ろしい — だに survives in fixed combinations with verbs like 想像する、思い出す、聞く.
Practise 〜すら in the free app
This point is part of the “Emphasis and "Even" — すら・だに・てこそ・ばこそ” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N1 grammar points
From the same lesson: Emphasis and "Even" — すら・だに・てこそ・ばこそ
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜すら mean?
"Even" — the formal/written さえ. 専門家ですら分からない = even experts don't know. Does NOT replace さえ in 〜さえ〜ば ("if only").
Is 〜すら on the JLPT N1 test?
〜すら is taught in the JLPT N1 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Emphasis and "Even" — すら・だに・てこそ・ばこそ”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜すら?
Open the “Emphasis and "Even" — すら・だに・てこそ・ばこそ” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N1 mock exams, with no ads.