いっそ
Meanings
rather; might as well; better just
Used when choosing a more decisive, often somewhat drastic option: 'rather than doing this halfway, it would be better to just ...'. Common with forms such as いっそ〜しよう, いっそ〜したほうがいい, and いっそ〜してしまう.
Rather than fixing it halfway, let's just redo the whole thing.
If you're that unsure, you might as well turn it down.
if anything; on the contrary; almost rather
Used when an extreme or unexpected situation produces the opposite impression from what one might expect, often with evaluative adjectives such as 清々しい or 気持ちいい.
When it is this thorough, it is, if anything, satisfying.
His defiant attitude was almost refreshing, if anything.
Usage patterns
- いっそ〈動詞〉たほうがいいmight as well just do X (it would be better)
You might as well just quit a company like that.
- いっそ〈動詞〉てしまうto just go ahead and do X (and be done with it)
Rather than worrying about it, I'll just go ahead and tell everything.
- いっそ〈動詞〉うwhy not just do X
Since the plans changed, why don't we just go on a trip.
- いっそ〈形容詞〉if anything, it's actually X (an unexpectedly positive feeling)
Having lost everything, it almost feels refreshing.