〜はまだしも (~wa madashimo) — N might be acceptable, but…
Twenty minutes I could take, but an hour! — 20分ならまだしも.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
Complaining to a friend: 「10分や20分ならまだしも、1時間も待たされたよ」— ten or twenty minutes would have been fine, but an hour!
Meaning
- 「〜はまだしも」= 'A I could somehow put up with, but B is too much, no way'.
- 「まだ」= still, 「しも」= emphasis; so 'A is still all right'.
- A is small / bearable and B is big / unbearable — the second item is always negative, unacceptable.
- So what follows is 無理です・〜ない・〜なんて・〜も (as much as): 「旅行はまだしも、留学なんて無理です」.
How to attach
- N + は/なら + まだしも
- 「なら」adds a little more of 'if it were that'.
- Keep the pattern in mind: 「small thing はまだしも、big thing は無理/〜ない」
Versus what you know
「はともかく」sets A aside neutrally and says something good about B; with 「まだしも」B is always bad, unbearable.
Watch out
If something good follows, the sentence breaks — you do not say 「雨はまだしも、晴れてうれしい」.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
一日や二日はまだしも、一週間も休むのは無理です。
いちにちやふつかはまだしも、いっしゅうかんもやすむのはむりです。
A day or two would be fine, but taking a whole week off is impossible.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 一日や二日 = a day or two (a small matter) → 「は」 + 「まだしも」 = that would be OK → then the big, impossible thing: 一週間も〜無理です.
平日ならまだしも、日曜日にまで残業したくない。
へいじつならまだしも、にちようびにまでざんぎょうしたくない。
Weekdays would be one thing, but I don't want to work overtime even on Sundays.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 平日 = a weekday → 「なら」 = if it's that → 「まだしも」 → then the unbearable thing: 日曜日にまで〜したくない.
私の日本語では、日常会話はまだしも、会議での発表なんてできません。
わたしのにほんごでは、にちじょうかいわはまだしも、かいぎでのはっぴょうなんてできません。
With my Japanese, everyday conversation is fine, but a presentation in a meeting — no way.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 日常会話 = everyday conversation (easy) → 「はまだしも」 → then the thing I can't do, with 「なんて」: 発表なんてできません.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「10分_まだしも、1時間も待てません。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: N + は/_ + まだしも.
N + は/なら + まだしも. 10分ならまだしも = ten minutes would be fine.
Which sentence is unnatural?
💡 Hint: Can something good follow まだしも?
What follows はまだしも is always the unacceptable, negative item; 'I am glad' does not fit.
What kind of thing follows 「〜はまだしも」?
💡 Hint: 'A is OK, but B…' — what is B like?
The second item is always unacceptable (留学なんて無理).
Your score: /3