if only; as long as just

さえ〜ば states the single sufficient condition for a result (if only you do X, then Y). Place さえ after a noun or verb stem and complete it with the ば conditional. It stresses that nothing more than that one thing is needed.

Examples

• お金かねさえあれば、何なんでも買かえる。

  Okane sae areba, nan demo kaeru.

  As long as you have money, you can buy anything.

• 練習れんしゅうさえすれば、上手じょうずになる。

  Renshuu sae sureba, jouzu ni naru.

  If you just practice, you'll get good.

Vocabulary in these examples

• お金 money
• ある to exist (inanimate); to have
• 何 what
• する to do
• 上手 good at; skillful
• なる to become

Related patterns · Condition and basis

• 〜限り as long as; as far as
• 〜ないことには unless; without first
• 〜以上は now that; since (given that)
• 〜からには now that; since (so naturally)
• 〜に基づいて based on; on the basis of