SuGoiSuす語彙すGrammar › N1 · 13 Limits and inclusion
〜ないまでも: if not; at least
N1 · 13 Limits and inclusion
Says that even if A (the higher level) is not done, B (a lower level) should be.
Verb ない-form + までも + B (at least). B is a smaller level: 毎日ないまでも、週に一度は運動したい. Spoken and written. The pair is of different degrees. Positive requests or hopes follow.
Examples
毎日とは言わないまでも、週に一度は運動したいものだ。
If not every day, I would like to exercise at least once a week.
満点を取れないまでも、合格点は取りたい。
Even if I cannot get a perfect score, I want to get at least a passing mark.