What is an emphatic particle?


The explanation I have found says that it is a particle on the end of the
sentence. However, in the book I am reading ( _An Integrated Approach to
Intermediate Japanese_ ) it is stated that も is an emphatic particle, the same
with さえ.

> An emphatic particle which expresses the idea of "even" in non-conditional
> clauses (or sentences) or the idea of "only" in conditional clauses.
>
> ● **Notes**
>
>   1. も as an emphatic marker is an extended use of も1. The following
> examples show the transition of meaning from the original idea "also" to the
> emphatic use "even"
>
> a. グレーさんは非常に難しい漢字も読める。  
>  _Literally:_ Mr. Gray can read very difficult kanji, too. (Mr. Gray can
> read _even_ very difficult kanji.)
>
>

Also, I have seen comments saying that something is more emphatic than
something else, or emphatic statement.

It has been bothering me for a while already and I would like to see an
explanation if possible.




I think your confusion comes from the fact that there is more than one way to
use particles for an emphatic effect.

### Sentence final particles

Sentence final particles よ, ぞ, ぜ, わ and others are [sometimes
called](https://www.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-emphatic-particles/)
_emphatic particles_. They are added to the end of a sentence for an emphatic
effect — for example, conveying that you feel strongly about something.

Sentence final particles usually emphasize the statement of the **whole
sentence**.

There are many such particles, although よ is particularly common and
versatile. Choosing between such particles will depend on nuance, register,
gender, etc. and there are many questions about these:

  * [In what situations can you use ぞ as a sentence ender](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/617/1628)
  * [ぜ at the end of sentence?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/12072/1628)
  * [Difference between ぞ and ぜ](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/30192/1628)
  * [When women use わ at the end of a sentence, is it different from よ?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/2886/1628)
  * [わ usage at the end of sentences](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/244/1628)
  * [how could a sentence end with (noun + "よ"?)](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/12986/1628)

Also see the tag [sentence-final-particles](/questions/tagged/sentence-final-
particles "show questions tagged 'sentence-final-particles'") or the
individual tags [particle-よ](/questions/tagged/particle-%e3%82%88 "show
questions tagged 'particle-よ'"),
[particle-わ](/questions/tagged/particle-%e3%82%8f "show questions tagged
'particle-わ'"), etc.

* * *

### Particle も

The particle も can be used to emphasize a **particular word** within a
sentence.

For the emphatic use of も the [プログレッシブ和英中辞典 lists following example
sentences](https://kotobank.jp/jeword/%E3%82%82)

> **3** 〔さえ〕
>
>   * 猿も木から落ちる  
>  _Even_ monkeys fall from trees occasionally.／ _Even_ an expert makes
> mistakes.／( _Even_ ) Homer sometimes nods.
>
>   * 彼はありがとうも言わずにそれを取った  
>  He took it without _so much as_ saying thank you.
>
>

>
> * * *
>
> **5** 〔強調〕
>
>   * この品物は1万円もした  
>  This (article) cost _no less than_ [ _all of_ ] 10,000 yen.
>
>   * 彼はそれを完成するのに10年もかかった  
>  It took him ten long years to complete it.
>
>   * 10人もの人が皆同じ間違いをした  
>  _All_ ten people made the same mistake.
>
>   * この村の者は一人も知らない  
>  I don't know a single one of the villagers.
>
>   * 冗談もいいところだ  
>  You are carrying your joke too far.
>
>   * こうも暑いとぐったりしてしまう  
>  When it's as hot as this, I feel listless.
>
>   * そんなことをするとは非常識もはなはだしい  
>  It was simply too thoughtless of him to do such a thing.
>   * 今まで黙っているなんて君も君だよ  
>  Why didn't you let me know earlier? I'm surprised at you.／How could you not
> have told me?
>   * 歌いも歌ったり，その数は50曲に及んだ  
>  We sang and sang until we had finished fifty songs.
>
>   * 3時間も待った  
>  I waited for a _good_ three hours.
>
>

* * *

### Particle さえ

Similarly, the particle さえ can be used for an emphatic effect. Again, the
[プログレッシブ和英中辞典 lists the following example
sentences](https://kotobank.jp/jeword/%E3%81%95%E3%81%88)

> **1** 〔さらに〕
>
>   * 雨さえ降ってきた  
>  _On top of that_ [ _everything_ ], it began to rain.
>

>
> * * *
>
> **2** 〔…ですら〕even
>
>   * 彼さえ知らないのだからだれも知らないだろう  
>  If _even_ he doesn't know, then nobody does.
>   * ABCさえ書けない  
>  He can't _even_ write the alphabet.／He cannot _so much as_ write the
> alphabet.
>   * 1滴の水さえない  
>  There is not a drop of water (to be had [found]).
>   * 彼は兄弟にさえ裏切られた  
>  He was betrayed _even_ by his own brothers.
>

>
> * * *
>
> **3** 〔そのことだけで十分〕
>
>   * もっと勉強しさえすれば試験に合格できたのに  
>  If _only_ you had studied harder, you could have passed the examination.
> これさえあれば十分だ This is all I need.
>

Also see

  * [さえ how to use it](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/33409/1628)

* * *

### Contrastive particle は

The particle は can also be used for contrast/emphasis. See for example

  * [What's the difference between wa (は) and ga (が)?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/22/1628)

* * *

### Combining "emphatic particles"

Of course there is no reason you cannot combine sentence final particles and
emphatic も or さえ — just pick any of the above example sentences and add an
"emphatic" sentence final particle.

* * *

### Other expressions used for emphasis

On top of that, there are other words or expressions used for emphasis. For
example

  * [Usage of なんて and なんか as emphasis](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/421/1628)
  * [Usage of nan desu?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/14565/1628)




I think your confusion comes from the fact that there is more than one way to
use particles for an emphatic effect.

### Sentence final particles

Sentence final particles よ, ぞ, ぜ, わ and others are [sometimes
called](https://www.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-emphatic-particles/)
_emphatic particles_. They are added to the end of a sentence for an emphatic
effect — for example, conveying that you feel strongly about something.

Sentence final particles usually emphasize the statement of the **whole
sentence**.

There are many such particles, although よ is particularly common and
versatile. Choosing between such particles will depend on nuance, register,
gender, etc. and there are many questions about these:

  * [In what situations can you use ぞ as a sentence ender](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/617/1628)
  * [ぜ at the end of sentence?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/12072/1628)
  * [Difference between ぞ and ぜ](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/30192/1628)
  * [When women use わ at the end of a sentence, is it different from よ?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/2886/1628)
  * [わ usage at the end of sentences](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/244/1628)
  * [how could a sentence end with (noun + "よ"?)](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/12986/1628)

Also see the tag [sentence-final-particles](/questions/tagged/sentence-final-
particles "show questions tagged 'sentence-final-particles'") or the
individual tags [particle-よ](/questions/tagged/particle-%e3%82%88 "show
questions tagged 'particle-よ'"),
[particle-わ](/questions/tagged/particle-%e3%82%8f "show questions tagged
'particle-わ'"), etc.

* * *

### Particle も

The particle も can be used to emphasize a **particular word** within a
sentence.

For the emphatic use of も the [プログレッシブ和英中辞典 lists following example
sentences](https://kotobank.jp/jeword/%E3%82%82)

> **3** 〔さえ〕
>
>   * 猿も木から落ちる  
>  _Even_ monkeys fall from trees occasionally.／ _Even_ an expert makes
> mistakes.／( _Even_ ) Homer sometimes nods.
>
>   * 彼はありがとうも言わずにそれを取った  
>  He took it without _so much as_ saying thank you.
>
>

>
> * * *
>
> **5** 〔強調〕
>
>   * この品物は1万円もした  
>  This (article) cost _no less than_ [ _all of_ ] 10,000 yen.
>
>   * 彼はそれを完成するのに10年もかかった  
>  It took him ten long years to complete it.
>
>   * 10人もの人が皆同じ間違いをした  
>  _All_ ten people made the same mistake.
>
>   * この村の者は一人も知らない  
>  I don't know a single one of the villagers.
>
>   * 冗談もいいところだ  
>  You are carrying your joke too far.
>
>   * こうも暑いとぐったりしてしまう  
>  When it's as hot as this, I feel listless.
>
>   * そんなことをするとは非常識もはなはだしい  
>  It was simply too thoughtless of him to do such a thing.
>   * 今まで黙っているなんて君も君だよ  
>  Why didn't you let me know earlier? I'm surprised at you.／How could you not
> have told me?
>   * 歌いも歌ったり，その数は50曲に及んだ  
>  We sang and sang until we had finished fifty songs.
>
>   * 3時間も待った  
>  I waited for a _good_ three hours.
>
>

* * *

### Particle さえ

Similarly, the particle さえ can be used for an emphatic effect. Again, the
[プログレッシブ和英中辞典 lists the following example
sentences](https://kotobank.jp/jeword/%E3%81%95%E3%81%88)

> **1** 〔さらに〕
>
>   * 雨さえ降ってきた  
>  _On top of that_ [ _everything_ ], it began to rain.
>

>
> * * *
>
> **2** 〔…ですら〕even
>
>   * 彼さえ知らないのだからだれも知らないだろう  
>  If _even_ he doesn't know, then nobody does.
>   * ABCさえ書けない  
>  He can't _even_ write the alphabet.／He cannot _so much as_ write the
> alphabet.
>   * 1滴の水さえない  
>  There is not a drop of water (to be had [found]).
>   * 彼は兄弟にさえ裏切られた  
>  He was betrayed _even_ by his own brothers.
>

>
> * * *
>
> **3** 〔そのことだけで十分〕
>
>   * もっと勉強しさえすれば試験に合格できたのに  
>  If _only_ you had studied harder, you could have passed the examination.
> これさえあれば十分だ This is all I need.
>

Also see

  * [さえ how to use it](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/33409/1628)

* * *

### Contrastive particle は

The particle は can also be used for contrast/emphasis. See for example

  * [What's the difference between wa (は) and ga (が)?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/22/1628)

* * *

### Combining "emphatic particles"

Of course there is no reason you cannot combine sentence final particles and
emphatic も or さえ — just pick any of the above example sentences and add an
"emphatic" sentence final particle.

* * *

### Other expressions used for emphasis

On top of that, there are other words or expressions used for emphasis. For
example

  * [Usage of なんて and なんか as emphasis](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/421/1628)
  * [Usage of nan desu?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/14565/1628)

