ならいざ知らず
Don’t know about it, Maybe it would or might be possible for
Structure
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
Explanation
The grammatical phrase ならいざ知らず is formed from the conditional auxiliary verb なら, the adverb いざ (meaning 'now' or 'at that moment'), and 知らず, the classical negative form of the verb 知る 'to know'. It typically translates to 'It's one thing if (A), but (B)' or 'I can't speak for (A), but (B)'. This expression carries a formal tone and is used to highlight that a particular statement (B) is true, irrespective of the circumstances of (A).
Verbs in their standard forms can be followed by ならいざ知らず. It can also connect to nouns and な-adjectives by replacing their final だ with なら.
- 大事なプレゼンをするならいざ知らず、ただの打ち合わせなんだから、そんなに緊張しなくてもいいよ。I could understand if you were giving a major presentation, but it's just a regular meeting, so you don't need to be so nervous.
- 一度だけ間違えるならいざ知らず、同じミスを何回もするのは許せない。It would be one thing to make a mistake once, but I can't forgive making the same mistake over and over again.
- 本当に料理が得意ならいざ知らず、初心者にこんな難しい料理を作らせるのは無理だよ。I might understand if they were genuinely skilled at cooking, but it's unreasonable to make a beginner cook such a difficult dish.
- 大人ならいざ知らず、子供があんなに遅い時間まで一人で外にいるのは危ない。It might be different for an adult, but it's dangerous for a child to be out alone that late at night.
The literal sense of 'if it were (A), I wouldn't know' highlights a contrast: while (A) is a possibility that isn't being considered, (B) is presented as a certainty. The Japanese structure itself does not contain a word for 'but'; this contrasting nuance is conveyed implicitly by setting aside situation (A) to focus on the reality of (B).
ならいざ知らず can also be used after い-adjectives that have been turned into noun phrases using the particle の.
- 高いのならいざ知らず、こんなに安い値段でちゃんとしたものが買えるとは思えない。I can't speak for the expensive ones, but I can't imagine you can buy a decent product at such a cheap price.
While this の pattern can also appear with verbs, it is seen less frequently than when ならいざしらず connects directly to a standard verb form.
Fun Fact
Frequently, the situation presented as (A) is an exceptional or extreme case, used to emphasize how the contrasting situation (B) is particularly surprising or frustrating.
- １００年前ならいざ知らず、今の時代にスマホもパソコンも使えないなんて信じられない。It would be understandable 100 years ago, but it's unbelievable that someone can't use a smartphone or computer in this day and age.
- 億万長者ならいざ知らず、私のような一般人があんな高い車を買えるわけがない。A billionaire might be a different story, but there's no way an ordinary person like me could buy such an expensive car.
Caution
Sometimes, the particle は may be used in place of なら. This substitution does not alter the overall meaning of the expression.
- 昔はいざ知らず、今は誰でも簡単に海外旅行ができるようになった。I can't speak for the old days, but now anyone can easily travel abroad.
Examples
プロの料理人ならいざ知らず、家庭で作る分にはこの程度の味で十分だ。
I can't speak for a professional chef, but for home cooking, this level of flavor is more than enough.
若者ならいざ知らず、お年寄りがスマホの操作に苦労するのは仕方がない。
I don't know about young people, but it can't be helped that the elderly struggle with operating smartphones.
天才ならいざ知らず、凡人がここまでピアノを弾けるようになるには長年の練習が必要だ。
I can't speak for a genius, but for an ordinary person, it takes many years of practice to become able to play the piano this well.
Ａ：「明日のプレゼン、緊張するなあ。」
Ｂ：「ベテランならいざ知らず、初めてのプレゼンなら誰だって緊張するよ。」
A: 'I'm so nervous about tomorrow's presentation.'
B: 'I don't know about a veteran, but anyone would be nervous for their first presentation.'
冗談で言っているのならいざ知らず、本気でそう思っているなら問題だ。
It might be one thing if you're joking, but if you seriously think that, it's a problem.
都会ならいざ知らず、この田舎町では車がないと生活が不便です。
I don't know about in the city, but in this rural town, life is inconvenient without a car.
読み慣れている人ならいざ知らず、子供がこの分厚い本を一日で読み終えるのは難しいでしょう。
It might be a different story for someone used to reading, but it would probably be difficult for a child to finish this thick book in one day.
熱があるのならいざ知らず、ちょっと疲れているぐらいで仕事を休むわけにはいかない。
It would be a different story if I had a fever, but I can't just take the day off work for being a little tired.
専門家ならいざ知らず、素人がこの機械を修理するのは無理だ。
I don't know about an expert, but it's impossible for an amateur to repair this machine.
お金持ちならいざ知らず、一般の家庭にとって毎月の食費は大きな負担だ。
It might be a different matter for a rich person, but for a typical family, the monthly food bill is a significant burden.
海外ならいざ知らず、日本では電車は時間どおりに来るのが当たり前だ。
I don't know about other countries, but in Japan, it's normal for trains to arrive on time.
小雨ならいざ知らず、これほどの嵐の中を外出するのは危険だ。
A little rain might be one thing, but it's dangerous to go out in a storm this severe.
他人ならいざ知らず、私は納豆だけはどうしても食べられないんです。
I don't know about other people, but when it comes to natto, I just can't bring myself to eat it.