JLPT N2 grammar

〜まだしもmeaning and usage

Meaning

A is acceptable; A would be better/worse

How to form it

  • nounなら/はまだしも
  • verb (plain form)/い-adjectiveならまだしも
  • な-adjective (stem)ならまだしも

How it is used

'A would be one thing, but B…': A is just about acceptable, while B is not, and the second half usually complains. Unlike 「〜はともかく」, which simply sets A aside, it compares A with B.

Examples

  1. ランチに1000円ならまだしも3000円は高いでしょう。

    1000 yen for lunch would be OK, but 3000 yen is pricey.

  2. 一回ならまだしも、三回も同じミスをするなんて。

    Once would be one thing, but making the same mistake three times…

  3. 子どもはまだしも、大人がそんなことを言うのはおかしい。

    From a child it might pass, but it's strange for an adult to say that.