Noun + すら

[Even (emphatic)]

Connection: Noun + すら

Usage: A literary and emphatic particle meaning "even," implying that if this extreme case is true, then all lesser cases are naturally also true. More formal than さえ or でも. Often used with negative predicates.

Variations:

• ですら (after nouns, slightly more modern)

Examples:

専門家ですら、この問題は解けなかった。(Even experts couldn't solve this problem.)

彼は自分の名前すら書けない。(He can't even write his own name.)

そんな基本的なことすら知らないのか。(You don't even know something that basic?)