くらいならI'd rather … than
There is something you refuse to put up with, so you name what you would do instead. The second choice doesn't have to be good. It only has to beat the first.
Rather than pay that much for the repair, you'd be better off buying a new computer.
Rather than stand in line for a whole hour, I'll give up for today.
How to form it
Verb dictionary form + くらいなら + what you'd do instead
ぐらいなら is the same. The thing you reject comes first, the reverse of English "I'd rather B than A".
- Before it
- A verb in the dictionary form: the thing you won't put up with.
- After it
- What should happen instead, often with ほうがいい or ほうがましだ ("would be less bad").
- Tone
- Strong. The first choice is thrown out, and the second is often drastic on purpose: 死んだほうがましだ, "I'd rather die". Aimed at something a person has offered you, it stings.
- Where you'll meet it
- Conversation, about your own choices or as blunt advice.
In use
Rather than force yourself to play along, it's better to stay quiet.
I'd rather die than apologize to that person.
If you're just going to throw it away, give it to me.
Not a plain preference
What comes before くらいなら sounds unbearable. Between two things you would be happy with, it comes out far too strong.
Sounds odd: 電車で
I'd rather go by bus than by train.
Fine only if you can't stand trains.
Close neighbours
より・のほうがN5
A plain preference. Nothing is wrong with the other choice.
I'd rather take the bus than the train.
まし is "less bad": neither choice is good. It often closes a くらいなら sentence, and it works without one.
Taking the long way around on foot is better than waiting here for two hours.
くらい as "that little", with a plain "if" after it: それくらいなら, "if that's all it is"; 見るくらいならいいよ, "if you're only looking, fine". Nothing is turned down: what follows is "fine" or "I can", not a second choice.
If that's all it is, even I can do it.
Check yourself
1What will this person do?
人に
Choose an answer to see why.
2You like both, but today you feel like tea. Which do you say?
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
With ばよかった after it, it is regret: you did put up with the first thing, and wish you hadn't.
If I was going to wait this long, I should have walked.
More sentences
I'd rather move closer to the office than commute two hours every day.
Rather than stay in a job I have no interest in, I'd choose work I like, even if it pays less.
If it means working even on my days off, I'll turn that request down.