Structure
Most common pattern:
Noun + なら(1) + いざ知らず
Less common patterns:
Verb + （の）+ なら(1) + いざ知らず
［い］Adjective + （の）+ なら(1) + いざ知らず
Noun + であれば(2) + いざ知らず
Noun + は + いざ知らず
(1) ならば(2) だったら
Details
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Formal
About ならいざ知らず
ならいざ知らず is a grammar expression which combines the hypothetical form of the auxiliary verb だ, なら, the adverb いざ ‘now’, or ‘well then’, and the classically-negated form of the う-Verb 知る, 知らず ‘to not know’. It is often translated as ‘I don’t know about (A), but (B)’, or ‘maybe (A), but (B). This phrase is formal, and usually used to emphasize that, regardless of (A), (B) fits a specific description.
ならいざ知らず will follow verbs in their standard forms. Additionally, it may follow either な-Adjectives or nouns that have had their terminal だ replaced with なら.
Just like the literal translation of ‘if it’s (A), well then I don’t know’, this structure emphasizes that (A) may or may not be the case, but (B) is definite. However, there is no direct use of ‘but’ in Japanese. This shows that the ‘but’ comes from the simple contrast of (A) being unknown while (B) is known.
ならいざ知らず may also be seen following other structures such as い-Adjectives when they have been nominalized with の.
This の pattern is also used with verbs, but it is less common than simply attaching ならいざしらず to one of the standard verb forms.
Fun Fact
In many cases, (A) is an extreme example used to show that (B) is the opposite of that, and is therefore either surprising or irritating.
- 大昔ならいざ知らず、現代では詐欺についてよくテレビやインターネットで話題になっているから、詐欺の手口も年々と進化していってる。I don’t know about the past, but nowadays, scams are often talked about on TV and the internet today, so scam tactics are evolving year by year.
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神ならいざ知らず、俺みたいなやつにはああいうことをする奴たちを許すことなどできない。I don't know about the gods, but it is very hard for a person like me to forgive people that do things like that.
Caution
Occasionally は will be used instead of なら. However, the meaning of the overall phrase will remain the same.
- ６０年前はいざ知らず、今では喫煙する人が減ってきている。I don’t know about 60 years ago, but nowadays, there are less people that smoke.
Examples
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１万円は社会人ならいざ知らず、小学生にとっては想像を絶する金額だ。
I don't know about working adults, but for children, 10 000 yen is an unimaginable amount of money.
１００年前ならいざ知らず、現代のこの国においては情報へのアクセスは容易になっているからそのようなことを誰でも知っているはずだ。
I don't know about 100 years ago, but in modern times, since access to information is widespread in this country, everybody should know something like that.
「運動は不健康だからしない」と最近よく聞く。プロのスポーツ選手ならいざ知らず、一般の人ならば、運動は有益である。
Recently, I often hear that 'exercising is unhealthy, so I don't do it'. I don't know about professional athletes, but for ordinary people exercising is beneficial.
A：「子供の頃、ここでザリガニを釣ったものだ。」
B：「昔ならいざ知らず、現代では川が汚染されているから無理です。」
'When I was a child, I used to catch crayfish here.'
'I don't know about how it was in the past, but nowadays the river is polluted, so it's impossible.'
「自分一人で衣装を着て楽しむのならいざ知らず、人前にコスプレ姿で出るのは私にとっては不可能に近いです。」
'It might be possible to wear the costume by myself for fun, but when it comes to going out in public dressed in cosplay, then it's nigh on impossible!
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