The lesser evil: 〜ほうがましだ
Verb (dictionary／た／ない) + ほうがましだ ; N の + ほうがましだ
Verb or N の + ほうがましだ: of two unpleasant options, this one is less bad (“I'd rather, I'd sooner”), often after 〜くらいなら. Spoken, strong tone.
In short
〜ほうがましだ compares two unpleasant options and picks the less bad one: “I'd rather…, I'd sooner…”. The first option, the one you reject, is often introduced with 〜くらいなら／ぐらいなら (“rather than”), なら or より: 満員電車に乗るくらいなら、歩いて帰るほうがましだ. The tone is strong, often emotional, and the expression 死んだほうがまし (“I'd rather die”) is a common exaggeration. Spoken register.
- 満員電車に乗るくらいなら、歩いて帰るほうがましだ。まんいんでんしゃにのるくらいなら、あるいてかえるほうがましだ。Rather than take a packed train, I'd sooner walk home.
- あんな店で食べるなら、何も食べないほうがましだ。あんなみせでたべるなら、なにもたべないほうがましだ。If it means eating at a place like that, I'd rather not eat at all.
- こんなまずいコーヒーより、水のほうがましだ。こんなまずいこーひーより、みずのほうがましだ。I'd rather have water than coffee this bad.
The basics
ほうがいい (N4) recommends a good option. ほうがましだ chooses between two bad ones: neither appeals, but one is bearable. The speaker often expresses a strong rejection of the first option: saying that “even this” is better shows how much you hate it.
Rather than take a packed train, I'd sooner walk home.
- other
- verb
- noun
- grammatical form
- あんな人に頼むくらいなら、自分でやったほうがましだ。あんなひとにたのむくらいなら、じぶんでやったほうがましだ。Rather than ask someone like that, I'd sooner do it myself.
- この暑さの中を出かけるより、家にいるほうがましだ。このあつさのなかをでかけるより、いえにいるほうがましだ。Rather than go out in this heat, I'd sooner stay at home.
How to form it
The verb goes in the dictionary form, the ない-form or the た-form (as with ほうがいい). A noun takes の. The rejected option comes first, with くらいなら／ぐらいなら (the most expressive), なら or より.
| Word | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary) | 〜るほうがましだ | 歩いて帰るほうがましだ |
| Verb in ない | 〜ないほうがましだ | 何も食べないほうがましだ |
| Verb in た | 〜たほうがましだ | 自分でやったほうがましだ |
| Noun | N のほうがましだ | 水のほうがましだ |
| Rejected option | 〜くらいなら／〜より／〜なら | 乗るくらいなら |
- うそをつくくらいなら、黙っていたほうがましだ。うそをつくくらいなら、だまっていたほうがましだ。Rather than lie, it's better to keep quiet.
ほうがまし, ほうがいい, だけまし
ほうがいい simply gives advice (早く寝たほうがいい). ほうがましだ assumes both choices are bad. だけましだ (previous point) doesn't compare two options: it finds a bright side to a situation you've already been through.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ほうがいい | advice, the good option | 早く寝たほうがいい |
| 〜ほうがましだ | the less bad of two options | 歩くほうがましだ |
| 〜だけましだ | at least, that's something | 怪我がないだけましだ |
- 熱があるなら、今日は早く寝たほうがいいよ。ねつがあるなら、きょうははやくねたほうがいいよ。If you've got a fever, you'd better go to bed early tonight. (advice)
A strong tone, to be handled with care
ほうがましだ is expressive and often exaggerated: 死んだほうがまし (“I'd rather die”) is a common hyperbole in arguments or complaints, not to be taken literally. In a work setting or with a superior, such a blunt rejection sounds harsh: you'd choose a measured phrase like 〜のほうがよいかと思います.
- あいつに謝るくらいなら、死んだほうがましだ！あいつにあやまるくらいなら、しんだほうがましだ！I'd rather die than apologise to that guy! (exaggeration)
- 日程を考えると、来週のほうがよいかと思います。にっていをかんがえると、らいしゅうのほうがよいかとおもいます。Given the schedule, I think next week might be preferable. (formal)
Common mistakes
- Using it for a genuinely good choice: ×健康のために、野菜を食べるほうがましだ. You need ほうがいい.
- Mixing up ほうがまし (choosing between two evils) and だけまし (finding a bright side to a situation).
- Forgetting の after a noun: ×水ほうがまし. You say 水のほうがまし.
- Taking 死んだほうがまし literally: it's an argument-style exaggeration.
8 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N2 point is on the Kamiiida Line (Health and the body) of the Nagoya lines.