〜ならまだしも
nara madashimo
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
if it were X, that would still be acceptable, but (the actual case is worse)
〜ならまだしも presents a milder case that the speaker could have tolerated, then complains that what actually happened is worse. 一度ならまだしも、三度も = "Once would be one thing, but three times!". まだしも means "still better". The tone is annoyed or disappointed.
Spoken and written, common in complaints and criticism. X is the tolerable case (一度・子供・少し・知らなかったの); the second half is the intolerable reality, often ending in とは / なんて / のは問題だ.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
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
Visual diagram
一度
once: I could still let it go
ならまだしも
the line of tolerance
三度も同じ失敗
three times: unacceptable
一度
once: I could still let it go
ならまだしも
the line of tolerance
三度も同じ失敗
three times: unacceptable
Natural examples
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...
Once is tolerable; three times crosses the line.
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...
子供ならまだしも: a child could be excused; an adult cannot.
遅れるだけならまだしも、連絡もしないのは失礼だ。
おくれるだけならまだしも、れんらくもしないのはしつれいだ。
Being late would be one thing, but not even getting in touch is rude.
遅れるだけならまだしも: mere lateness is forgivable; not calling is not.
少し値上げするならまだしも、いきなり倍になるなんてひどい。
すこしねあげするならまだしも、いきなりばいになるなんてひどい。
A small price rise would be one thing, but doubling it out of nowhere is awful.
The worse reality ends in なんてひどい.
初心者ならまだしも、経験者がこんな基本的なミスをするとは。
しょしんしゃならまだしも、けいけんしゃがこんなきほんてきなミスをするとは。
From a beginner it might be understandable, but for an experienced person to make such a basic mistake…
Sentence-final とは leaves the disapproval hanging.
Similar grammar and the difference
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. Compare side by side
"I don't know about X, but" — sets aside an unknown or extreme case. まだしも sets aside a mild case the speaker could accept. Compare side by side
Puts a topic aside to focus on another ("never mind X"). Not a scale from tolerable to intolerable. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 三度ならまだしも、一度失敗した。
- ✓
- 一度ならまだしも、三度も失敗した。
- Why
- X must be the milder, tolerable case, and the reality the worse one. Reversing them makes no sense.
- ✗
- 遅刻するならまだしも、早く来た。
- ✓
- 遅刻するならまだしも、来ないのは困る。
- Why
- The second half must be worse than X. Arriving early is not a complaint.
- ✗
- 子供のならまだしも、大人がそんな言い訳をするなんて。
- ✓
- 子供ならまだしも、大人がそんな言い訳をするなんて。
- Why
- A noun attaches directly with なら. The の is only needed after a verb or い-adjective (知らなかったのならまだしも).
The intolerable half is often marked by も (三度も), まで, or なんて to stress excess. It can be used in self-criticism too: 学生の頃ならまだしも、この年で徹夜はきつい. In polite complaints, まだしも softens by admitting the speaker would have accepted a milder version.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- In 文法形式の判断, look for a pair on a scale (一度 vs 三度, 子供 vs 大人, 少し vs 倍) with an annoyed ending; that is ならまだしも.
- If the options include ならともかく and ならまだしも, both may be grammatical; まだしも is the one that emphasizes "X was still bearable".
- In 並べ替え, ならまだしも is one chunk; the milder case sits before it, the worse case after.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜ならまだしも mean?
if it were X, that would still be acceptable, but (the actual case is worse). 〜ならまだしも presents a milder case that the speaker could have tolerated, then complains that what actually happened is worse. 一度ならまだしも、三度も = "Once would be one thing, but three times!". まだしも means "still better". The tone is annoyed or disappointed.
How do you form 〜ならまだしも?
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. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜ならまだしも used?
Spoken and written, common in complaints and criticism. X is the tolerable case (一度・子供・少し・知らなかったの); the second half is the intolerable reality, often ending in とは / なんて / のは問題だ.
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.
What is the difference between 〜ならまだしも and 〜ならいざしらず?
"I don't know about X, but" — sets aside an unknown or extreme case. まだしも sets aside a mild case the speaker could accept.
What is a common mistake with 〜ならまだしも?
Wrong: 三度ならまだしも、一度失敗した。 Right: 一度ならまだしも、三度も失敗した。 X must be the milder, tolerable case, and the reality the worse one. Reversing them makes no sense.
Quick check
一日（ ）、一週間も連絡がないのは心配だ。