まだしも

ま

だ

し

も

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

adverb

rather; better; still acceptable

usually written using kana alone

Used in comparisons to indicate that while something is not ideal, it is preferable or more acceptable than another option. Often appears in patterns like ～ならまだしも or ～はまだしも.

一いち度どなら

まだ

しも

、

二に

度ど

も

遅ち

刻こく

する

なんて

許ゆる

せ

ない

。

Once would be one thing, but being late twice is unforgivable.

子こ供どもならまだしも、大人おとながそんなことをするなんて信しんじられない。

It might be understandable for a child, but I can't believe an adult would do such a thing.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉ならまだしもif it were just X, that would be one thing, but...
一いち度どならまだしも、何なん度ども同おなじ間ま違ちがいをするのは問もん題だいだ。
If it happened once, that would be one thing, but making the same mistake repeatedly is a problem.
〈事こと〉はまだしもX is tolerable, but...
遅ち刻こくはまだしも、無む断だん欠けっ席せきは許ゆるされない。
Being late is one thing, but an unexcused absence is unacceptable.