〜ならいざしらず

Perhaps...but

Level 5Sounds Like naraizashirazu

A high-level expression meaning 'If it were A, it might be one thing, but since it's B, it's unacceptable.' It highlights that the current situation is far beyond the limit of what is reasonable.

How It Works

This pattern is a formal, literary expression used to express strong judgment, criticism, or disbelief. It functions by setting aside a 'lesser' or 'hypothetical' case as potentially understandable, thereby making the actual situation seem even more extreme.

Key Characteristics:

  • Tone: It almost always carries a negative nuance, such as dissatisfaction or surprise at how bad/strange the reality is.
  • Structure: [Hypothetical/Acceptable Case] + ならいざしらず + [Actual/Unacceptable Reality].
  • Etymology: The 'いざ' comes from the archaic particle 'いさ' (isa), which meant 'I don't know' or 'who knows?'. Thus, the literal sense is 'If it were A, I wouldn't know (it might be okay), but...'

Usage Notes:
While ならいざしらず is the standard form for nouns, verbs, and adjectives, you may also see 〜はいざしらず used specifically with nouns to mean 'I don't know about X, but...' without the strong hypothetical 'if' nuance.

Examples (4)

  1. 新人ならいざしらず、ベテランの彼がこんな初歩的なミスを犯すとは信じられない。

    If he were a new recruit it might be one thing, but I can't believe a veteran like him would make such a basic mistake.

    Word by Word: New recruit if it were I don't know, veteran (possessive) he (subject) this kind of basic mistake (object) commit that (topic) cannot believe.

    The speaker suggests a new recruit's mistake might be excusable, but a veteran's mistake is shocking.

  2. １０年前ならいざしらず、今の時代にスマホを持っていない人は珍しい。

    Maybe ten years ago it would be different, but in this day and age, people who don't own a smartphone are rare.

    Word by Word: 10 years ago if it were I don't know, now's era in smartphone (object) have-not person (topic) is rare.

    Contrasts the past (where not having a phone was normal) with the present reality (where it is strange).

  3. 安いアパートならいざしらず、こんな高級マンションで壁が薄いなんて許せない。

    It might be expected in a cheap apartment, but it's unforgivable for the walls to be thin in a luxury condo like this.

    Word by Word: Cheap apartment if it were I don't know, this kind of high-class mansion in walls (subject) thin such as unforgivable.

    The speaker contrasts a situation where thin walls are 'understandable' (cheap housing) with the 'unacceptable' reality (luxury housing).

  4. 子供ならいざしらず、大人がそんな公共の場で騒ぐのは恥ずかしいことだ。

    If it were a child it might be one thing, but for an adult to make a scene in a public place like that is shameful.

    Word by Word: Child if it were I don't know, adult (subject) that kind of public place in make-noise nominalizer (topic) shameful thing is.

    Contrasts the behavior of a child (excusable) with that of an adult (inexcusable).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the pattern for positive surprises or outcomes.

    天才ならいざしらず、私でも試験に合格できた！
    天才ならいざしらず、普通の私がこの難問を解けるはずがない。

    The second clause should generally express negativity, impossibility, or a problem. It is not used to express 'Even I could do it!' in a positive sense.

  • Swapping the hypothetical and the reality.

    ベテランならいざしらず、新人がミスをした。
    新人ならいざしらず、ベテランがミスをした。

    The part before 'izashirazu' must be the 'excusable' or 'understandable' case. You cannot put the more serious/actual problem in the first half.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

〜ならいざしらずLevel 5Perhaps...but

Learn This First

〜ならいざしらず is a formal expression used to set aside a hypothetical or extreme case ('If it were X, it might be different, but...') to focus on the current reality. It requires an understanding of the 'nara' conditional to establish the premise that is being excluded or treated as an exception.

Words in This Pattern

いざ知らず