JLPT N1 Grammar – Difference between “〜はおろか” and “〜ならいざしらず”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜はおろか” and “〜ならいざしらず”
2. AはおろかB
3. AならいざしらずB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Simler Articles
7. Comment
Q: How are “〜はおろか” and “〜ならいざしらず” different?
A: Both are expressions used for comparison and contrast, but they have clear differences in meaning and usage.
AはおろかB (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
Needless to say ～; as a matter of course ～ (and also …)
[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form + はおろか
[N] Noun + はおろか
[Examples]
彼は漢字はおろか、ひらがなさえ読めません。
He can’t even read hiragana, let alone kanji.
忙しくて昼ごはんはおろか、水も飲めませんでした。
I was so busy that I couldn’t even drink water, let alone have lunch.
In A, place something of lesser degree or a basic matter, and in B, place something of greater degree to compare A and B.
B is often something with a high degree of unexpectedness and is frequently combined with emphatic expressions such as “も,” “さえ,” or “まで” to convey the speaker’s surprise or dissatisfaction.
[Examples]
彼は日本に住んで10年になりますが、漢字はおろかひらがなさえ読めません。
He has been living in Japan for 10 years, yet he can’t even read hiragana, let alone kanji.
⇒ This expresses the feeling that since they can’t read hiragana, there’s no way they could read the more difficult kanji.
最近入社した新人は、あいさつはおろか目も合わせないんです。
The new employee who joined the company recently doesn’t even make eye contact, let alone greet people.
このシステムは操作性はおろか、セキュリティ面でも大きな問題があります。
This system not only has usability issues but also has serious problems with security.
AならいざしらずB／AはいざしらずB (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
～ is another matter; ～ would be understandable, but …
[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form (+ の) + ならいざしらず
[N] Noun + なら / は + いざしらず
[Examples]
知らなかったのならいざしらず、知っていてこんな間違いは許されません。
If you didn’t know, that would be one thing, but making such a mistake when you knew is inexcusable.
一人でやる仕事ならいざしらず、チームで動く以上、報告は必要です。
If you were working alone, that would be one thing, but as long as you’re working as part of a team, reporting is essential.
In A, present something at least understandable or an extreme/special case, and in B, state the speaker’s opinion after excluding A.
[Examples]
A：高速道路、渋滞かな。
B：夏休みならいざしらず、平日だし空いてるはずだよ。
A: I wonder if the highway is congested.
B: If it were summer vacation, that would be one thing, but it’s a weekday, so it should be clear.
⇒ This gives the example of traffic congestion during summer vacation, conveying the idea: “I can understand if there’s congestion during summer vacation, but since it’s a weekday, it should be fine.”
軽い風邪ならいざ知らず、インフルエンザなら休んだ方がいいよ。
If it’s just a mild cold, that would be one thing, but if it’s the flu, you should take a rest.
一人でやる仕事ならいざ知らず、チームで動く以上、報告は必要です。
If you were working alone, that would be one thing, but as long as you’re working as part of a team, reporting is necessary.
またBには話し手の批判的な意見や驚きの気持ちを述べることが多いです。
[Examples]
趣味でやるならいざしらず、仕事でこのレベルでは困ります。
If it were done as a hobby, that would be one thing, but at this level for work, it’s unacceptable.
⇒ This expresses a strong opinion that while such quality might be understandable for a hobby, it is not acceptable in a professional context.
昨日入った新人ならいざしらず、あなたがこのミスをするとは思いませんでした。
If it were a new employee who just joined yesterday, that would be one thing, but I never expected you to make this mistake.
コンビニならいざしらず、高級レストランでそんな格好はまずいでしょ。
If it were a convenience store, that would be one thing, but such attire is inappropriate in a high-class restaurant.
Let’s Compare
Which of the following would be more appropriate in this situation?
[Examples]
①子供はおろか、大人があいさつしないのはどうかと思います。
②子供ならいざしらず、大人があいさつしないのはどうかと思います。
The correct answer is ②.
Since the latter part of the sentence expresses the speaker’s critical opinion, “ならいざしらず” is the more appropriate choice.
“AはおろかB” lists two facts, A and B, and expresses stronger surprise or dissatisfaction toward B.
[Example]
子供はおろか、その親もあいさつをしませんでした。
Not only the children but even their parents didn’t greet.
⇒ This expresses surprise at the unexpected fact that even the parents didn’t greet.
“AならいざしらずB” presents something in A that is at least understandable or could be considered an exception, and in B expresses criticism or a negative judgment.
[Example]
子供ならいざしらず、その親もあいさつしないなんておかしいよ。
If it were children, that would be one thing, but it’s strange that even their parents don’t greet.
⇒ This expresses a strong objection, saying that not greeting is “strange.”
Summary
[AはおろかB]
- Used with the meaning of “～ is a matter of course” or “needless to say (and also ～).”
- In A, place something of lesser degree or a basic matter, and in B, place something of greater degree or higher unexpectedness than A to make a comparison.
- In B, it is often combined with emphatic expressions such as “も,” “さえ,” or “まで” to convey the speaker’s opinion, surprise, or dissatisfaction.
[Aはいざしらず／ならいざしらずB]
- Used with the meaning of “～ is another matter” or “～ would be understandable, but ….”
- In A, present something at least understandable or an extreme/special case, and in B, state the speaker’s opinion after excluding A.
- B often contains critical opinions or a sense of surprise.
Similer Articles
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