【JLPT N2 Grammar】〜はまだしも / 〜ならまだしも（~wamadashimo / ~naramadashimo）

2020年4月20日 2024年8月31日

Explanation：〜はまだしも / 〜ならまだしも

Meaning
"Xなら、まだ許せるが、"

"if X, I can understand/forgive ,but if Y … "
Used to indicate that while a certain situation might be tolerable, another situation is much worse or unacceptable.

Form
Nは + まだしも
Nなら + まだしも

Points

Contrast Between Two Situations: This expression is used to compare two situations, where the first one might be acceptable or understandable, but the second one is not.
Implying Worse Outcome: It often implies that while one situation might be somewhat manageable, the other situation is much worse or beyond what can be tolerated.
Expresses Frustration or Discontent: This phrase is often used to express frustration, disappointment, or criticism about the second, less tolerable situation.

JLPT Level
N2

Sample sentenes

一度いちどや二度にどならまだしも、君きみは何度なんども仕事しごとで同おなじミスをしすぎだよ。
I can understand making the same mistake once or twice, but you're making the same mistakes at work over and over again.

小学生しょうがくせいならまだしも、君きみはもう大人おとななんだから、わからないことがあったら、すぐに聞きくんじゃなくて、まずは自分じぶんで調しらべなさい。
If you were an elementary school student, it would be different, but you're an adult now. If there's something you don't understand, don't just ask right away; first try to look it up yourself.

財布さいふだけならまだしも、パスポートも盗ぬすまれてしまい、今いまとても困こまっている。
It would be one thing if it were just my wallet, but my passport was also stolen, and now I'm in big trouble.

１０分じゅっぷんならまだしも、１時間じかんなんて待てませんよ。
I can wait for 10 minutes, but I can't wait for an hour.

友達ともだちならまだしも、全まったく知しらない人ひとにお金かねを貸かすなんて無理むりです。
Lending money to a friend is one thing, but there's no way I can lend money to a complete stranger.

雨あめならまだしも、台風たいふうの中なかで外出がいしゅつするのは危険きけんだ。
It would be one thing if it were just rain, but going out in a typhoon is dangerous.

Vocabulary

Japanese		English
盗む	ぬすむ	to steal
外出する	がいしゅつする	to go out