📖 Japanese Grammar Guide N1: ～くらいなら

📌 What is ～くらいなら?

～くらいなら is a Japanese grammar pattern used to:

• Express a preference for one unpleasant option over a worse one
• It’s like saying “If I had to do X, I’d rather do Y”, where X is undesirable.

This grammar often appears in conversations where you want to compare two negative outcomes or express what you’d rather avoid doing.

📖 Structure

✅ It’s usually followed by a second clause expressing a better alternative.

🎨 Meaning in Context

Used when:

• Comparing two choices — both may be bad, but one is less bad.
• Expressing a strong dislike for the first option.
• Indicating you would choose something else if forced.

English equivalents:

• “If I had to do X, I’d rather do Y.”
• “I’d prefer Y over doing X.”
• “I would never choose X; I’d rather (alternative).”

📚 Example Sentences

📌 Nuances & Tone

• Often conveys strong feelings of dislike or unwillingness.
• The second option (after なら) may not be great either — it’s just less bad.
• Conversational, frequently used in personal opinions or casual speech.

📝 Comparison with Similar Expressions

Example:
満員電車に乗るよりましだ。
→ It’s better than riding a packed train.

満員電車に乗るくらいなら、歩く。
→ If I have to ride a packed train, I’d rather walk.

✅ Practice Exercise

Translate into Japanese using ～くらいなら:

1. If I have to lie, I’d rather say nothing.
2. If I have to live in that city, I’d rather move abroad.
3. If I have to eat spicy food, I’d rather skip the meal.

Possible Answers:

1. 嘘をつくくらいなら、何も言わない。
2. その町に住むくらいなら、海外に引っ越す。
3. 辛い物を食べるくらいなら、食事を抜く。

📝 Summary Table

📑 Pro Tip:

This structure is very natural in spoken Japanese. It’s a polite, indirect way to say “I hate that idea” while still offering an alternative.