〜が〜なら、〜も〜だ
ga ... nara, ... mo ... da
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
like X, like Y; X is bad, and Y is no better
XがXなら、YもYだ repeats each noun to say that both related parties are at fault in the same way. 親が親なら、子も子だ = "Like parent, like child (both are bad)". The first half describes the one who sets the example; the second says the other is just as bad. It is always critical.
Spoken Japanese, idiomatic and blunt. Used about pairs in a relationship: 親 / 子, 会社 / 社員, 先生 / 生徒, 国 / 国民, 監督 / 選手. Not for praise. Too harsh for formal or polite contexts.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
N1 + が + N1 + なら、N2 + も + N2 + だPairs: 親が親なら子も子だ / 会社が会社なら社員も社員だ / 先生が先生なら生徒も生徒だBoth nouns are repeated exactly
Visual diagram
- 親が親ならthe parent is (bad) as a parent
- 子も子だthe child is just as (bad) as a child
Natural examples
親が親なら、子も子だ。
おやがおやなら、こもこだ。
Like parent, like child.
The proverb-like original; both generations are criticized.
会社が会社なら、社員も社員だ。
かいしゃがかいしゃなら、しゃいんもしゃいんだ。
The company is bad, and the employees are just as bad.
Company and employees: the organization sets a bad example and the staff follow.
先生が先生なら、生徒も生徒だ。
せんせいがせんせいなら、せいともせいとだ。
With a teacher like that, no wonder the students are like that too.
Teacher and students: the same structure.
監督が監督なら、選手も選手だ。誰も練習に来ない。
かんとくがかんとくなら、せんしゅもせんしゅだ。だれもれんしゅうにこない。
The coach is useless and the players are no better. Nobody comes to practice.
The explanation follows in the next sentence.
店長が店長なら、店員も店員で、誰一人挨拶をしない。
てんちょうがてんちょうなら、てんいんもてんいんで、だれひとりあいさつをしない。
The manager is bad and the staff are just as bad; not one of them greets customers.
〜も〜で links to the evidence.
Similar grammar and the difference
Lists two things of the same kind (雨も降れば風も吹く), neutral. が〜なら〜も〜だ repeats the same nouns and is always a criticism. Compare side by side
Criticizes one party (弟ときたら). が〜なら〜も〜だ criticizes two related parties together. Compare side by side
Two aspects supporting one judgment, often positive (色といいデザインといい). Not about mutual blame. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 親が親なら、子も子だ。二人とも素晴らしい。
- ✓
- 親が立派なら、子も立派だ。
- Why
- The pattern is always negative. For praise, use an adjective instead of repeating the noun.
- ✗
- 親が親なら、子供も子だ。
- ✓
- 親が親なら、子も子だ。
- Why
- Each noun must be repeated exactly.
- ✗
- （上司に）部長が部長なら、課長も課長ですね。
- ✓
- （使わない）
- Why
- The pattern is blunt criticism; it is not usable toward or about superiors in their presence.
The idiom has a proverb feel; 親が親なら子も子だ is the model everyone knows. It is often followed by a sentence giving the shared fault. Softer alternatives: 〜も〜も似たようなものだ / どちらもどちらだ.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- In 文法形式の判断, a noun repeated with が〜なら and a second noun repeated with も〜だ is the pattern; the tone is critical.
- Distractor 〜も〜ば〜も: it does not repeat the same noun and is neutral.
- In 並べ替え, the four chunks are usually N が / N なら / N も / N だ; keep each pair together.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜が〜なら、〜も〜だ mean?
like X, like Y; X is bad, and Y is no better. XがXなら、YもYだ repeats each noun to say that both related parties are at fault in the same way. 親が親なら、子も子だ = "Like parent, like child (both are bad)". The first half describes the one who sets the example; the second says the other is just as bad. It is always critical.
How do you form 〜が〜なら、〜も〜だ?
N1 + が + N1 + なら、N2 + も + N2 + だ / Pairs: 親が親なら子も子だ / 会社が会社なら社員も社員だ / 先生が先生なら生徒も生徒だ / Both nouns are repeated exactly. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜が〜なら、〜も〜だ used?
Spoken Japanese, idiomatic and blunt. Used about pairs in a relationship: 親 / 子, 会社 / 社員, 先生 / 生徒, 国 / 国民, 監督 / 選手. Not for praise. Too harsh for formal or polite contexts.
What is the difference between 〜が〜なら、〜も〜だ and 〜も〜ば〜も / 〜も〜なら〜も?
Lists two things of the same kind (雨も降れば風も吹く), neutral. が〜なら〜も〜だ repeats the same nouns and is always a criticism.
What is the difference between 〜が〜なら、〜も〜だ and 〜ときたら?
Criticizes one party (弟ときたら). が〜なら〜も〜だ criticizes two related parties together.
What is a common mistake with 〜が〜なら、〜も〜だ?
Wrong: 親が親なら、子も子だ。二人とも素晴らしい。 Right: 親が立派なら、子も立派だ。 The pattern is always negative. For praise, use an adjective instead of repeating the noun.
Quick check
約束の時間に誰も来ない。社長が社長なら、（ ）。