〜くらいなら
JLPT N1:rather than / if it comes to
Rejects an undesirable option and says another option, sometimes unpleasant itself, would be preferable.
How to form it
- Put くらいなら after a dictionary-form verb: 曲げるくらいなら.
- The preferred alternative follows, often with ほうがいい, ほうがましだ or a statement of intent.
- X is the option the speaker strongly wants to avoid.
Examples
自分の考えを曲げるくらいなら、参加しないほうがいい。
Rather than compromise my beliefs, I would prefer not to participate.
満員電車に乗るくらいなら、少し早く家を出ます。
Rather than take a packed train, I will leave home a little earlier.
Common mistakes
- Making X the preferred option.
- Reading くらい only as an approximate degree marker.
Similar meaning
- よりthan
より makes a neutral comparison; くらいなら rejects X and chooses the alternative.