〜ないまでも (~nai made mo) — even if not ~, at least
Not all the way to the top level, but at least one step below it — the 'at least this much' form.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
You are preparing for the JLPT: 'I probably can't get full marks, but I'll at least get a pass mark.'
Meaning
- 「〜ないまでも」= not reaching the ideal top level, but reaching a slightly lower, still satisfying level.
- In front comes the ideal or extreme level (満点・毎日・プロ・完璧); after it, a level one step lower, often with せめて・少なくとも・〜くらいは.
- It ends in a wish or request such as 〜たい・〜てほしい・〜べきだ・〜よう.
How to attach
- Verb ない-form + 「までも」: できないまでも・行かないまでも
- With a noun: 「毎日とは言わないまでも」「満点とはいかないまでも」
Versus what you know
「〜なくても」also means 'even without', but it has no sense of levels; 「ないまでも」builds a ladder: 'not the top rung, but at least this one'.
Watch out
- What follows must be only a little below the first level.
- Something far lower ('I can't be first, but last is fine too') or the opposite ('I can't pass, but I won't study either') does not fit.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
満点は取れないまでも、合格点は必ず取りたい。
まんてんはとれないまでも、ごうかくてんはかならずとりたい。
Even if I can't get full marks, I definitely want to get a passing score.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 満点 = full marks (the ideal level) → 取れない = can't get (ない-form) → 「までも」 = even if I don't reach that → then one step down: 合格点は取りたい.
毎日はできないまでも、週に三回は日本語を勉強しよう。
まいにちはできないまでも、しゅうにさんかいはにほんごをべんきょうしよう。
Even if I can't do it every day, I'll study Japanese at least three times a week.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 毎日 = every day (the ideal) → できない = can't do it → 「までも」 → then a slightly lower level, plus my decision: 週に三回は勉強しよう.
謝らないまでも、せめて一言連絡してほしかった。
あやまらないまでも、せめてひとことれんらくしてほしかった。
Even if you weren't going to apologize, I wish you had at least let me know.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 謝る = to apologize (the ideal behavior) → 謝らない → 「までも」 = even if you didn't go that far → then せめて + something smaller: 一言連絡してほしかった.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「直接会いに＿＿＿、電話ぐらいはしてほしい。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 'Even if you can't come, at least…' — which verb form?
Vない + までも: 来ないまでも = even if you don't come → 電話ぐらいは = at least a call.
「優勝はできないまでも、＿＿＿。」— which ending is natural?
💡 Hint: The ending needs a level just one step lower.
Not first (the ideal), but at least third — one step down. 'Last is fine' is far too low; the other two contradict the first half.
「仕事が忙しくて、毎日は＿＿＿、週末には必ず母に電話する。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 'Not every day, but at least at weekends'.
電話しないまでも = even if I don't call every day → at least at weekends. 「てまでも」= going as far as an extreme means; the meaning does not fit.
Your score: /3