“〜nara iza shirazu”: If It Were 〜, That'd Be One Thing, But… [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「昔ならいざしらず、今は難しい」「子供ならいざしらず大人が泣くな」 — if it were that case it'd be different, but the current situation isn't.
“〜nara iza shirazu”: If It Were 〜, That'd Be One Thing, But…
「(noun/plain form) ＋ ならいざしらず」 means “if it were 〜, that'd be one thing (but…it isn't)” — the first clause cites an understandable, forgivable extreme case, used to contrast the latter ‘but … is different'. E.g. 「子供ならいざしらず、大人が泣くな」 (if it were a child it'd be understandable, but adults shouldn't cry), 「昔ならいざしらず、今はそんなやり方は通用しない」 (in the old days maybe, but that approach doesn't work now), 「新入社員ならいざしらず、課長がこんなミスをするとは」 (a new hire is one thing, but for a section chief to make such a mistake…). It first concedes ‘that case is understandable,' then stresses ‘but this case is unacceptable/different.'
🧠 Core nuance: that case would be understandable, but this one is different
The core is contrasting an understandable case to highlight the latter's unacceptability/difference: the first clause cites a forgivable, understandable extreme example (if it were a child, the old days, a new hire), and 「ならいざしらず」 says ‘that case would be excusable/another matter,' to contrast the latter ‘but now/this case is different, shouldn't be so' (but adults shouldn't cry, but it doesn't work now, but a section chief shouldn't). It carries a contrastive, critical nuance of ‘that's understandable, but this is….' ⚠️ The first clause is an ‘understandable, forgivable' case; the latter is an ‘unacceptable, different' reality. Connection: noun/plain form ＋ ならいざしらず. 「いざしらず」 is the classical ‘don't know, leaving aside.' Common in criticism, exclamation. A written, somewhat stiff expression.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ ならいざしらず | if it were 〜, that'd be one thing | 子供ならいざしらず |
| plain form ＋ ならいざしらず | if 〜, that'd be one thing | 知らなかったならいざしらず |
| (followed by) the contrasting reality | but … isn't | 〜ならいざしらず、〜 |
💬 Example Sentences
- 子供ならいざしらず、いい大人がそんなことで泣くな。(If it were a child it'd be understandable, but a grown adult shouldn't cry over that.) — contrast
- 昔ならいざしらず、今はそんなやり方では通用しない。(In the old days maybe, but that approach doesn't work now.) — contrast
- 新入社員ならいざしらず、ベテランの課長がこんなミスをするとは。(A new hire is one thing, but for a veteran section chief to make such a mistake…) — criticism
- 一度や二度ならいざしらず、毎回遅刻するのは問題だ。(Once or twice would be one thing, but being late every time is a problem.) — contrast
- 専門家ならいざしらず、素人には難しすぎる内容だ。(For an expert it'd be different, but it's too hard for a layperson.) — contrast
🔄 Compare: ならいざしらず vs はともかく vs ならまだしも vs にしても
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ならいざしらず | “if it were 〜, that'd be one thing, but” (contrasting the latter) | 子供ならいざしらず大人が |
| 〜はともかく | “setting 〜 aside” (putting aside for now) | 結果はともかく |
| 〜ならまだしも | “if it were 〜 it'd be okay, but” (near-synonym, lighter tone) | 一度ならまだしも |
| 〜にしても | “even if 〜” (concession) | 忙しいにしても |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- First clause an understandable case: ならいざしらず precedes a forgivable, understandable example (子供, 昔, 新人), used to contrast the latter.
- Followed by a contrasting reality: the latter is a criticism/exclamation that ‘but this case is unacceptable/shouldn't be.'
- Near-synonym ならまだしも: ならまだしも is lighter, more colloquial; ならいざしらず is somewhat stiff, written.
- Connection: noun/plain form ＋ ならいざしらず.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
ならいざしらず means “if it were 〜, that'd be one thing (but…it isn't),” the first clause citing an understandable, forgivable extreme case to contrast the latter ‘but this case is different/shouldn't be' (子供ならいざしらず大人が泣くな = a child would be understandable, but adults shouldn't cry). It carries a contrastive, critical nuance of ‘that's understandable, but this is….' Near the lighter-toned ならまだしも. Somewhat stiff, written, common in criticism and exclamation. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: noun/plain form ＋ ならいざしらず = if it were 〜, that'd be one thing (citing an understandable case to contrast the latter); followed by criticism, exclamation.
- Nuance: first clause understandable, forgivable; latter unacceptable, different; somewhat stiff, written.
- Distinction: ならいざしらず (contrast, somewhat stiff) vs ならまだしも (near-synonym, lighter) vs はともかく (setting aside).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「新入社員___、課長がこんなミスをするとは。」（新人也就罷了）
(A) ならいざしらず (B) だからこそ (C) はもとより (D) に限って
Q2. 「ならいざしらず」の前項の役割は?
(A) 可理解的極端情況，用來反襯後項
(B) 結論
(C) 命令
(D) 純粹的時間
Q3. 「子供ならいざしらず大人が」の意味は?
(A) 如果是小孩還情有可原，大人卻…
(B) 小孩和大人都可以
(C) 只有小孩可以
(D) 大人小孩都不行(無對比)
Q4. 「ならいざしらず」の語感は?
(A) 如果是〜還另當別論（反襯後項）
(B) 因為〜所以
(C) 即使〜也
(D) 隨著〜
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 学生ならいざしらず、社会人が…。 (B) 学生をならいざしらず。
(C) 学生だならいざしらず。 (D) 学生ならいざしらずを。
答案解析
1. (A) ならいざしらず ── 新人也就罷了。
2. (A) ── 可理解情況反襯後項。
3. (A) ── 小孩情有可原,大人卻…。
4. (A) ── 如果是〜還另當別論。
5. (A) ── 「学生ならいざしらず」正確。