JLPT N1 grammar comparison
〜ならまだしも vs 〜ならともかく
By Nihongo PathUpdated
The difference
From the 〜ならまだしも lesson
〜ならともかく: Also "if it were X, fine, but". ともかく is more neutral ("setting X aside"); まだしも stresses that X would have been tolerable, so the contrast is more emotional.
From the 〜ならともかく lesson
〜ならまだしも: Nearly the same; まだしも stresses that X would have been "still bearable" and is more emotional. ともかく is more neutral: "X aside".
Side by side
〜ならまだしも
nara madashimo · JLPT N1
- Meaning
- if it were X, that would still be acceptable, but (the actual case is worse)
- Formation
N + ならまだしも普通形 + の + ならまだしも (知らなかったのならまだしも)いA / なA + ならまだしも (安いならまだしも・少しならまだしも)Second half: the worse reality + とは / なんて / のは困る
一度ならまだしも、三度も同じ失敗をするとは。
いちどならまだしも、さんどもおなじしっぱいをするとは。
Once would be one thing, but making the same mistake three times...
子供ならまだしも、大人がそんな言い訳をするなんて。
こどもならまだしも、おとながそんないいわけをするなんて。
A child might be excused, but for an adult to make such an excuse...
〜ならともかく
nara tomokaku · JLPT N1
- Meaning
- if it were X, that would be fine, but …; X aside, …
- Formation
N + ならともかく普通形 + の + ならともかく (知らなかったのならともかく)いA / なA + ならともかく (安いならともかく)Second half: the actual case + a negative judgment
学生ならともかく、社会人がこんな服装では困る。
がくせいならともかく、しゃかいじんがこんなふくそうではこまる。
If you were a student, fine, but a working adult should not dress like this.
一日二日ならともかく、一週間も休むのは無理だ。
いちにちふつかならともかく、いっしゅうかんもやすむのはむりだ。
A day or two would be fine, but taking a whole week off is impossible.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 〜ならまだしも and 〜ならともかく?
Also "if it were X, fine, but". ともかく is more neutral ("setting X aside"); まだしも stresses that X would have been tolerable, so the contrast is more emotional.
When do you use 〜ならともかく instead of 〜ならまだしも?
Nearly the same; まだしも stresses that X would have been "still bearable" and is more emotional. ともかく is more neutral: "X aside".