「〜ならともかく」- Although...But

Explanation

〜ならともかく is a Japanese grammatical structure used to express that while one situation might be tolerable, another is absolutely unacceptable. Its core meaning is "although...but...". This pattern often conveys the speaker's tolerance for the first situation and strong dissatisfaction or opposition to the second.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
〜ならともかく	Verb dictionary form / い-Adjective / Noun stem + ならともかく	Indicates tolerance for the first situation but intolerance or rejection of the second.

Basic Usage

The basic structure of 〜ならともかく is as follows:

• Verb dictionary form + ならともかく
• い-Adjective + ならともかく
• Noun + ならともかく

This pattern is used to express that the first situation is somewhat acceptable or understandable, but the second is intolerable or unacceptable.

Examples

• 遅刻ちこくならともかく、無断むだん欠席けっせきなどしてはならない。
• Chikoku nara tomokaku, mudan kesseki nado shite wa naranai.
• Being late is one thing, but skipping without notice is unacceptable.
  

• 新入社員しんにゅうしゃいんだから教おしえてくれるならともかく、全すべて自分でで学まなべというのには無理むりがある。
• Shinnyuu shain dakara oshiete kureru nara tomokaku, subete jibun de manabe to iu no ni wa muri ga aru.
• If you're a new employee and someone is willing to teach you, that's one thing, but expecting to learn everything on your own is unrealistic.
  

• 雨あめの日ひに体調たいちょう悪わるくて出でかけられないのならともかく、晴はれの日ひにそうだったら残念ざんねん極きわまりない。
• Ame no hi ni taichou warukute dekakerarenai no nara tomokaku, hare no hi ni sou dattara zannen kiwamarinai.
• If you can't go out because you're feeling unwell on a rainy day, that's understandable, but if it's the same on a sunny day, it's extremely disappointing.
  

Deep Dive

〜ならともかく is often used in contexts involving contrast, expressing the speaker's emotional attitude. This pattern is particularly effective in emphasizing the acceptability of a situation, especially in everyday conversations, where it helps convey the speaker's opinions and feelings clearly.

Comparison and Distinction

「〜ならともかく」vs.「〜はともかく」

Pattern	Meaning	Example
〜ならともかく	The first situation is acceptable, but the second is not.	遅刻ちこくならともかく、無断むだん欠席けっせきは絶対ぜったいに許ゆるされない。
〜はともかく	Leaving the first situation aside, directly emphasizing the second.	味あじはともかく、値段ねだんが安やすいのでこの店みせが好すきだ。

「〜ならともかく」vs.「ならいざしらず」

Pattern	Meaning	Example
〜ならいざしらず	The first situation is acceptable, but the second is not, often used in formal contexts.	数千円すうせんえんのウイスキーウイスキーならいざしらず、数万円台すうまんえんだいのを買かうなら失敗しっぱいしたくない。
〜ならともかく	The first situation is acceptable, but the second is not, with a slightly more casual tone.	友達ともだちならともかく、知しりあったばかりの人ひとにはお金かねは貸かせない。

Real-Life Scenarios

Here are some real-life scenarios where 〜ならともかく is commonly used:

• In the workplace:
  • 上司じょうしが遅おくれてくるならともかく、部下ぶかが遅おくれるのはよくない。
  • Joushi ga okurete kuru nara tomokaku, buka ga okureru no wa yokunai.
  • If the boss is late, that's one thing, but it's not good if the subordinates are late.
    
• In family life:
  • 子供こどもならともかく、大人おとなが規律きりつを守まもらないのは問題もんだいだ。
  • Kodomo nara tomokaku, otona ga kiritsu o mamoranai no wa mondai da.
  • If it's a child not following the rules, that's one thing, but it's a problem if an adult doesn't.
    

Summary

〜ならともかく is a highly practical Japanese grammatical structure used to express tolerance for one situation and opposition to another. By understanding its basic structure and usage, you can more accurately convey emotions and opinions in Japanese.