せめて
🃏 Flashcard
せめて
semete
Tap to reveal usage
at least; at most~
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
semete
Post ID
51130
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
at least; at most~
📖 How to use it
Expresses a minimum expectation or wish for at least something, often when the ideal is impossible.
Attaches to
Attaches to nouns, verbs in dictionary form, or noun + でも/くらい. No specific conjugation needed; it functions as an adverb.
せめて means 'at least' in the sense of settling for a minimum when you can't have everything you want. It often carries a feeling of compromise or regret: you can't have the best, but you hope for something acceptable. For example, if you can't visit often, you call at least once a week. It also appears in expressions like せめてもの with nouns meaning 'one small consolation'.
せめて週に一回は電話してよ。
Semete shuu ni ikkai wa denwa shite yo.
At least call me once a week.
せめてコーヒーくらい飲んでから行こう。
Semete koohii kurai nonde kara ikou.
Let's at least have a coffee before going.
せめてもう少し安くしてほしかった。
Semete mou sukoshi yasuku shite hoshikatta.
I wish they had made it at least a little cheaper.
Not 少なくとも (sukunakutomo)
少なくとも is neutral and factual, meaning 'at least' in numbers or amounts. せめて adds emotion and is used when you're hoping for something better than what you have.
Register
Neutral, used in both conversation and writing, but common in spoken Japanese to express feelings.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
せめて
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat せめて three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using せめて. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern せめて mean?
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At least; at most~
What JLPT level is せめて?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use せめて in a sentence?
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Attach せめて (semete) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is せめて formal or casual Japanese?
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せめて is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember せめて long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.