ほうがましだ

better than, would rather

AI-generated

Structure

[verb (dictionary form)] + ほうがましだ [verb た-form] + ほうがましだ [verb ない-form] + ほうがましだ [i-adj] + ほうがましだ [na-adj] + な + ほうがましだ [noun] + の + ほうがましだ [verb (dictionary form)] + くらいなら、 + … + ほうがましだ

Description

ほうがましだ means "I'd rather", "it would be better to": neither choice is good, and this one is less bad. The worse option usually comes first with くらいなら or より. Verbs and adjectives go in the plain form, a な-adjective keeps な, and a noun takes の.

、。

I'd rather be unemployed than work at a company like that.

、。

I'd rather walk than ride a packed train.

、。

I'd rather eat nothing than eat food this bad.

、。

I'd rather be alone than be with that person.

ほうがましだ or ほうがいい

recommends something as good. means "less bad", so ほうがましだ says the choice is only bearable, and it sounds like a complaint.

。

You should walk.

、。

I'd rather walk than wait for a taxi.

Usage notes

These go beyond the present-tense comparison.

よりましだ

Without ほう, よりましだ puts the worse option right before まし: "it's better than …".

、。

Even bad food is better than eating nothing.

ほうがましだった

In the past it is a regret: it would have been better to do the other thing.

。

It would have been better to do nothing.

Examples

、。

I'd rather quit than keep doing a job like this.

、。

I'd rather die than bow my head to that guy.

、。

I'd rather walk than ride a packed train.

、。

I'd rather sleep in the car than stay at a terrible hotel like that.

、。

Honest criticism is better than false praise.

。

It would have been better to do nothing.

、。

I'd rather work a part-time job than work for a salary like this.

、。

I'd rather be alone than be with that person.

、。

It's better to do it yourself than to leave it to him.

、。

Even bad food is better than eating nothing.

、。

If I was going to be complained at, it would have been better not to help in the first place.

、。

Given that kind of result, it might have been better not to try at all.

べくもない

ほどのことではない