N3 · Particles
さえ, こそ, でも and なんか: words of emphasis
the particles of emphasis
さえ is "even" for an extreme case, こそ is "this one and no other", でも is a softer "even" or "something like", and なんか plays something down.
さえ means "even" and picks out an extreme case: if even this is so, then everything else is too. 水さえ飲めませんでした, "I could not even drink water". It replaces が and を and follows other particles: 家族にさえ, "not even to my family". With a ば-form it names the one condition that would be enough: 時間さえあれば, "if only I had the time".
こそ stresses that it is this one and no other: 今度こそ合格したいです, "this time, at last, I want to pass". It is the emphasis of resolve and of singling out, and it does not sit easily with a negative verdict. The set reply こちらこそ answers thanks or an apology: "no, it is I who should thank you".
でも after a noun means "even", more gently than さえ — 先生でも分からない, "even the teacher does not know" — or, in an offer or suggestion, "something like": お茶でも飲みませんか, "shall we have a tea or something?". After a question word it means "any": 誰でも, いつでも, 何でも.
なんか and なんて belong to casual speech. They play something down — or show surprise or scorn: 私なんか, "someone like me", is modest; 宿題なんて, "homework, of all things", is contemptuous. Used about the listener's things they are insulting, which is where English speakers who have picked them up from conversation go wrong.
The form
| even: an extreme case | 忙しくて、昼ご飯を食べる時間さえありません。 |
| if only | 天気さえよければ、出かけます。 |
| this one and no other | 今年こそ運転免許を取ります。 |
| even, more gently | この問題は先生でも難しいそうです。 |
| something like | コーヒーでも飲みませんか。 |
| question word with でも | 何でも聞いてください。 |
| playing down | 私なんか、まだまだです。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
さえ picks out an extreme case: if even this is so, everything else is too.
辞書にさえ載っていない言葉です。It is a word that is not even in the dictionary.
さえ with a ば-form gives the one condition that would be enough: "if only".
この薬さえ飲めば、すぐ治りますよ。If you just take this medicine, you will soon be better.
こそ stresses that it is this one and no other.
「よろしくお願いします。」「こちらこそ。」"I look forward to working with you." "Likewise."
でも after a noun means "even" or, in a suggestion, "something like".
週末に映画でも見に行きませんか。Shall we go and see a film or something at the weekend?
なんか and なんて play something down; use them about yourself, not about the listener.
私なんかにできるでしょうか。Could someone like me really do it?
A closer look
Why なんか can be rude
なんか puts what comes before it a step lower. Said about yourself it is modest: 私なんか、まだまだです, "someone like me still has a long way to go". Said about the listener's cooking, work or friends, the same word is an insult. In polite speech など does the modest job more gently: 私などには無理です.
なんて can also carry surprise at a whole situation rather than contempt: 一人で全部作ったなんて、すごいですね, "you made it all by yourself? That is impressive." The tone of voice and the rest of the sentence decide which it is.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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でも follows a question word
it does not mean "even" but "any": 誰でも anyone, どこでも anywhere, 何でも anything.
質問があれば、いつでも連絡してください。If you have any questions, get in touch at any time.
The question word leaves the choice open, and でも says that every possible answer will do.
How to spot it
- さえ
- さえ〜ば
- こそ
- でも
- 誰でも
- いつでも
- なんか
- なんて
Example sentences
疲れて、歩くことさえできませんでした。I was so tired I could not even walk.
お金さえあれば幸せだと思いますか。Do you think money is all it takes to be happy?
今度こそ試験に合格したいです。This time I really want to pass the exam.
この店はいつでも混んでいます。This shop is always crowded.
雨なんか気にしないで、行きましょう。Never mind a bit of rain — let's go.
彼がそんなことを言うなんて、信じられません。I cannot believe he would say a thing like that.
7 more example sentences
名前さえ書けば、誰でも参加できます。Anyone can take part — all you need to do is write your name down.
親友にさえ話していない秘密です。It is a secret I have not told even my best friend.
これこそ私が探していた本です。This is exactly the book I was looking for.
小さい子どもでも分かるように説明してください。Please explain it so that even a small child could understand.
疲れたね。お茶でも飲もうか。That was tiring, wasn't it? Shall we have a cup of tea or something?
試験なんて、なければいいのに。Exams — I wish there were no such thing.
「いつもありがとうございます。」「いいえ、こちらこそ。」"Thank you for everything." "Not at all — thank you."
Worth knowing (1)
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でも at the start of a sentence
At the start of a sentence でも is a different word: the conjunction "but". It is common in speech; in formal writing しかし is preferred.
行きたいです。でも、時間がありません。I would like to go. But I do not have the time.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
Both particles are often translated with an emphatic English word, but they point in opposite directions. さえ picks out an extreme, often unwelcome case — "not even this". こそ singles out the one that counts — "this time, at last". A firm resolution takes こそ.
さえ is the extreme case, こそ is the one that counts, and なんか is for playing down your own things.
Your turn
9 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.