ほうがましだ

The expression ほうがましだ conveys that one option, while perhaps not ideal, is still preferable to an even worse alternative. It translates roughly to "it would be better to…" or "I would rather…" but carries a strong nuance of reluctant preference – the speaker is choosing the lesser of two evils. Unlike ほうがいい, which gives straightforward advice, ほうがましだ implies that neither option is truly desirable, but one is at least more tolerable.

Basic usage

The structure typically compares two options, with the less bad option marked by ほうがましだ. The worse option is often introduced with より or くらいなら.

With verbs

When comparing actions, the verb is in plain (dictionary or た) form before ほうがましだ.

With nouns and adjectives

Nouns take のほうがましだ or なほうがましだ (for な-adjectives).

Nuance

The word まし (written 増し or マシ) literally means "better" in the sense of "less bad." It does not imply that the chosen option is good – only that it is more bearable. This makes ほうがましだ considerably more negative in tone than ほうがいい. Because of this strong negative nuance, it can sound harsh or dramatic, and is common in complaints, arguments, and emphatic statements.