It is an adverb and it means "at least". It is used to say that someone should do something small, even if they do nothing else.
Leo is eating ice cream next to Ken.
- Ken : Are you eating ice cream?
アイス、食べているの？ - Leo : Yeah. I'm almost done.
うん。もうすぐ食べ終わるけど。 - Ken : That looks good. At least, let me have a bite.
いいな。せめて一口ちょうだいよ。
Ken is asking Leo about his language learning progress.
- Ken : Have you been studying English every day since spring?
春から毎日、英語を勉強しているんだっけ？ - Leo : Yes. At the very least, I want to get my English up to conversational level.
うん。せめて日常会話ができるようになりたい。
Meg's boyfriend is calling her because she hasn't shown up yet .
- Tom : I'm waiting for you. Where are you?
待っているんだけど、どこ？ - Meg : I'm sorry. I'm still at home. I just woke up.
ごめん、まだ家。今起きた。 - Tom : Huh? At least, let me know if you're going to be late. Anyway, how long will I have to wait?
はっ? 遅れるなら、せめて連絡(くらい)してよ。それで、あとどれくらい待てばいいの？ - Meg : Hmm, can’t you wait for just 20 minutes more ? I look terrible today. I know that I don't have time to do my makeup, but I just want to fix my hair.
んー、せめてあと20分待ってほしんだけど？今ひどい顔(を)している。メイク(or化粧)する時間はないけど、せめて髪は整えなきゃ。
Meg is attending her friend's wedding ceremony.
- Meg : Congratulations on getting married! You look very beautiful! Ahhh, I have always wanted to wear a wedding dress at least once!
結婚おめでとう！すごくきれい！あー、私も、せめて一度(くらい)はウェディングドレスを着たいな。 - Kumi : Haha OMG, how many times do you plan on getting married? I think once is definitely enough.
ははは、何回結婚するつもり？一度で十分でしょ。
Have you heard of "せめてもの救い"?
It is a phrase that is derived from "せめて". It means "saving grace".
I've been working overtime every day, but at least I don't need to go to work on my days off.
最近毎日残業をしているけど、休日出勤(は)しなくていい事は、せめてもの救いだ。
最近毎日残業をしているけど、休日出勤(は)しなくていい事は、せめてもの救いだ。
I've dated Ken for 10 months, but he dumped me yesterday. At least he did so before we decided to get married or have kids.
ケンと10ヵ月間付き合ったけど、昨日振られた。彼が運命の人ではなかった事が、せめてもの救いだ。
ケンと10ヵ月間付き合ったけど、昨日振られた。彼が運命の人ではなかった事が、せめてもの救いだ。
Many buildings were destroyed by the earthquake. Only the saving grace is that no one was hurt.
地震で、多くの建物が破壊された。せめてもの救いは、誰も怪我をしなかった事だ。
地震で、多くの建物が破壊された。せめてもの救いは、誰も怪我をしなかった事だ。