Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 5: 11/17

くらいなら
would rather...than, rather than, better off

Structure
Verb［る］+ ぐらいなら(1) + Phrase

(1) くらいなら
Structure Legend  
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
  • [AくらいならB is a phrase meaning "(I) would rather B than A." It is used when the speaker considers A to be the worst case possible and prefers B, which, while still not quite satisfactory, is much better than A]
  • [Expressions like ほうがいい、ほうがましだ、ほうがよかった and なさい are prevalent in B. いっそ and むしろ can be added for emphasis]
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A：「彼（かれ）に助（たす）けを求（もと）めたらどう？」
B：「彼（かれ）に助（たす）けを求（もと）めるくらいなら、むしろピラニアだらけの池（いけ）を泳（およ）いだほうがましだぞ。」
A: "What about asking him for help?"
B: "I would rather swim through a pond full of piranha than ask him for help."
This construction can be used as a reaction to what the speaker finds to be a bad suggestion or advice
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    • 「その仕事（しごと）は絶対（ぜったい）に嫌（いや）だ。それに戻（もど）るくらいなら死（し）んだほうがましだ。」
    "I really hate that job. I would rather die than go back."
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    • 「小（ちい）さなことに目（め）くじらを立（た）てる人（ひと）と一緒（いっしょ）に生活（せいかつ）するくらいならホームレスになったほうがましだ。」
    "I would rather become homeless than live together with a person who nitpicks every little thing I do."
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