〜だけましだ
dake mashi da
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
"at least ~", "it could have been worse" — the situation is bad, but one good point saves it.
まし means "less bad", not "good". You admit the situation is poor, then name the one thing that keeps it bearable.
Consoling yourself or someone else about a bad but not disastrous situation.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
V-plain + だけましだい-adj + だけましだな-adj + な + だけましだ; N + な + だけましだ
Visual diagram
- 給料は安いがbad situation
- 仕事があるthe one saving grace
- だけましだat least that / could be worse
Natural examples
給料は安いが、仕事があるだけましだ。
きゅうりょうはやすいが、しごとがあるだけましだ。
The pay is low, but at least I have a job.
家は狭いが、駅に近いだけましだ。
いえはせまいが、えきにちかいだけましだ。
The house is small, but at least it's near the station.
遅れたけど、来てくれただけましだよ。
おくれたけど、きてくれただけましだよ。
He was late, but at least he came.
骨折したが、命が助かっただけましだ。
こっせつしたが、いのちがたすかっただけましだ。
I broke a bone, but at least I survived.
Similar grammar and the difference
Compares two bad options ("X is the lesser evil"); だけましだ finds a consolation in the current situation. Compare side by side
せめて〜
"At least (I wish)": expresses a minimal hope, not a consolation about facts.
〜だけでも
"Even just"; the sentence-final ましだ makes the consolation explicit.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 仕事があるだけ嬉しい。（intending consolation）
- ✓
- 仕事があるだけましだ。
- Why
- The consolation meaning needs ましだ; だけ嬉しい means "happy to the extent that".
- ✗
- 静かだけましだ。
- ✓
- 静かなだけましだ。
- Why
- な-adjectives need な.
- ✗
- 遅れたけど、来てくれただけましで。
- ✓
- 遅れたけど、来てくれただけましだ。
- Why
- Sentence-final form is ましだ.
Often with まだ: まだましだ ("still better"). The consolation is small; the speaker is not fully satisfied. Polite: だけましです.
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- A bad situation with が/けど + a small positive + blank → だけましだ.
- Distractors: ほうがましだ, だけあって, だけに. If two alternatives are compared, ほうがましだ; if a consolation within one situation, だけましだ.
- Look for まだ or 少なくとも as clues.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜だけましだ mean?
"at least ~", "it could have been worse" — the situation is bad, but one good point saves it. まし means "less bad", not "good". You admit the situation is poor, then name the one thing that keeps it bearable.
How do you form 〜だけましだ?
V-plain + だけましだ / い-adj + だけましだ / な-adj + な + だけましだ; N + な + だけましだ. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜だけましだ used?
Consoling yourself or someone else about a bad but not disastrous situation.
What is the difference between 〜だけましだ and 〜ほうがましだ?
Compares two bad options ("X is the lesser evil"); だけましだ finds a consolation in the current situation.
What is the difference between 〜だけましだ and せめて〜?
"At least (I wish)": expresses a minimal hope, not a consolation about facts.
What is a common mistake with 〜だけましだ?
Wrong: 仕事があるだけ嬉しい。（intending consolation） Right: 仕事があるだけましだ。 The consolation meaning needs ましだ; だけ嬉しい means "happy to the extent that".
Quick check
電車は込んでいたが、座れた（ ）。