上司が上司なら部下も部下だ・
This repeated-noun pattern criticizes two closely connected people or aspects together. It conveys exasperation or resignation: the first is bad, and the second is no better.
How the judgment works
The nouns themselves do not state what is wrong. Instead, the surrounding context supplies the criticism, and the repetition implies that neither member of the pair deserves a better evaluation than the other. The pair therefore needs to be easy to understand, such as a manager and staff, a coach and players, or two aspects of one service.
この部署は、上司が上司なら、部下も部下だ。誰も責任を取ろうとしない。
In this department, the manager is bad enough, and the staff are no better. No one is willing to take responsibility.
AnalyzeThe second sentence makes the shared criticism explicit.
このアプリは、設計も設計なら、サポートもサポートだ。利用者の声がまるで反映されていない。
This app's design is bad enough, and its support is no better. User feedback has not been reflected at all.
AnalyzeChoose a natural pair
The construction works because the listener can see why the two nouns are being judged together. An arbitrary pair sounds forced. It is also stronger than merely saying that both have a certain property: the repeated frame presents both as blameworthy, disappointing, or otherwise problematic.
A spoken reaction
監督が責任を選手に押しつけているね。
The coach is shifting the blame onto the players.
Analyze監督も監督なら、選手も選手だよ。練習をさぼってばかりなんだから。
The coach is bad enough, but the players are no better. They do nothing but skip practice.
AnalyzeThe speaker does not defend either side; both receive the same unfavorable judgment.
Similar-looking patterns
も～なら～も can simply add two properties or facts and does not necessarily criticize them. The target pattern is narrower: it repeats each noun and conventionally judges both sides unfavorably. といい～といい also selects two aspects for one evaluation, but it does not require repeated nouns and can be used for praise as well as criticism.
More examples
委員長が委員長なら、委員も委員だ。全員、会議中の私語をやめない。
The committee chair is bad enough, and the members are no better. None of them stops chatting during meetings.
Analyze脚本も脚本なら、演技も演技だ。最後まで見るのがつらかった。
The script was bad enough, and the acting was no better. It was painful to watch to the end.
Analyze兄が兄なら、弟も弟だ。二人そろって約束の時間に遅れてきた。
The older brother is bad enough, and the younger one is no better. Both of them arrived late for the agreed time.
Analyze大家も大家なら、借り手も借り手だ。互いに契約書をきちんと確認していなかった。
The landlord is at fault, and the tenant is no better. Neither had properly checked the contract.
Analyze政府が政府なら、野党も野党だ。批判し合うばかりで、具体策を示さない。
The government is bad enough, and the opposition is no better. They do nothing but criticize each other without presenting concrete measures.
Analyze販売店も販売店なら、メーカーもメーカーだ。どちらも故障の原因を調べようとしない。
The retailer is bad enough, and the manufacturer is no better. Neither is willing to investigate the cause of the malfunction.
Analyze