は・
"A would be bearable, but B …": the first case isn't good either, only easier to put up with; the second goes too far.
Being late once I could put up with, but being late every week is a problem.
A thousand yen I could manage, but there is no way I can pay a hundred thousand.
How to form it
Noun + は／なら + まだしも
は is "as for", なら is "if it were". Often with だけ or くらい: 雨だけならまだしも.
After a clause
Plain form + なら + まだしも
少し高いくらいならまだしも.
- Before it
- The milder case: fewer times, a smaller amount, a lesser fault, someone easier to excuse. 一度, 千円, 初回のミス, 子ども.
- After it
- The worse case, often with も or まで, and what you think of it: 困る, 払えない, 納得できない.
- Tone
- Usually a complaint or a refusal.
- Where you'll meet it
- Conversation, reviews, opinion pieces. Friends also say ならまだいいけど.
In use
A first mistake I could understand, but making the same mistake three times cannot be overlooked.
In an old model it might be understandable, but this defect in a new product is not acceptable.
Rain alone we could cope with, but if strong winds come on top of it we will have no choice but to cancel the event.
だけならまだしも … まで: one thing alone would be bearable, but another comes on top.
いざしらず or まだしも?
A child might be another matter, but for an adult to do a thing like that is shameful.
A child is a different case, put aside without being judged. The point is the adult.
From a child I could put up with it, but for an adult to do a thing like that is shameful.
From a child it wouldn't be good either, only easier to put up with. From an adult it goes too far.
まだしも needs a worse case to follow. いざしらず doesn't: 昔はいざしらず、今では… only says that times have changed.
Close neighbours
Puts the first case aside as a different matter, without judging it, then says something firm about the one that counts. Mostly written.
A holiday might be another matter, but we can't close the shop for three whole hours in the middle of a weekday.
ならともかくN2
"It would be one thing if …": names a case you could accept. What follows is usually an objection to the real one.
From a child it would be one thing, but an adult making that kind of excuse is a problem.
Check yourself
1What is the complaint about?
一人ならまだしも、
Choose an answer to see why.
2What does this say about a new employee making the same mistake?
新人ならまだしも、
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
If you hadn't known, that would be one thing, but doing the same thing after it has been explained to you is inexcusable.
A delay of two or three days we could live with, but a month means we will have to rethink the plan.
The taste I could put up with, but I can't go to a restaurant with hygiene problems.