Grammar › N1 · 13 Limits and inclusion

〜ならまだしも: would be OK if; at least

N1 · 13 Limits and inclusion

Says one thing might be tolerable, but the worse case is not.

Noun/plain form + ならまだしも + worse case. The first clause is a milder situation. Spoken, a little complaining. Compare 〜ならいざ知らず, which stresses difference rather than degree.

Examples

一度いちどならまだしも、三度さんども同おなじミスをするとは困こまったものだ。

Once might be forgivable, but making the same mistake three times is a real problem.

遅刻ちこくならまだしも、無断むだん欠勤けっきんは許ゆるされない。

Being late might be forgivable, but being absent without notice is not.

Study 〜ならまだしも in the course →