まだしも
Meaning
A (the milder or more acceptable case) might be tolerable or understandable, but B (the more extreme case) is not. "A is one thing, but B..."
Conjugation
(A)N/なA + なら/だったら + まだしも、B: (A)N + は + まだしも、B
Examples
Show translation
校長に叱られるならまだしも、退学処分にされるなんて思わなかった。
髪を染めるのは、茶髪ならまだしも、金髪はだめだ。
多少不便ならまだしも、水も出ないのでは住めません。
十分ならまだしも、一時間も待てないよ。
英語はまだしも、数学は全然わからない。
友達に借りるならまだしも、勝手に使うなんてひどいよ。
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.title
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: 一時間待つならまだしも、十分も待てない。
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 十分待つならまだしも、一時間も待てない。
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: A must be the milder case and B the more extreme one. Reversing them makes the sentence illogical.
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: 日本語の会話ならまだしも、読み書きも上手だ。
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 日本語の会話ならまだしも、読み書きは全然できない。
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: B must be a negative judgement or a limit. You cannot use まだしも to add a positive statement; for that use ばかりか or だけでなく.
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: この料理はまだしもです。
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: この料理はまだましです。
grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: まだしも cannot end a sentence on its own to mean "better/not bad". It always needs a following clause B. "Not so bad" is まだまし.
Key points
Used to complain or criticize: A is a mild case that is barely acceptable, and B is more extreme and unacceptable, surprising, or unreasonable, so B usually ends in a negative expression. The "A" does not have to be actually good, only less bad than B. Compare ならともかく, which sets A aside as a separate matter without necessarily calling it acceptable. まだしも stresses that A is tolerable.
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