まだしも

まだしも is used to express that one thing, while not ideal, is still more acceptable or tolerable compared to something else that is worse or more extreme. It conveys the nuance of "X would still be understandable/bearable, but Y is too much" or "if it were X, that would be one thing, but…"

The word literally breaks down as まだ (still) + しも (even), giving the sense of "even still acceptable." It is used when the speaker wants to highlight how unreasonable or extreme something is by contrasting it with a comparatively better (though still imperfect) alternative.

Basic pattern: A はまだしも、B は…

The most common pattern places the more tolerable option before まだしも and follows it with the less acceptable situation.

Used with hypothetical or conditional forms

まだしも often pairs with conditional expressions like 〜～なら, 〜～だったら, or 〜～ば to set up the "more acceptable" scenario.

Nuance

The clause before まだしも does not describe something the speaker considers good – it is merely less bad by comparison. The speaker's real complaint or surprise is directed at what follows. This makes まだしも useful for expressing frustration, disbelief, or criticism.

まだしも is more commonly found in written language and formal speech, though it also appears in everyday conversation when emphasizing a contrast.