～くらいなら・～ぐらいなら — Rather than A, better B | JLPT N3 grammar

Meaning

Use it when the speaker finds A so undesirable that they prefer alternative B. It does not fit a neutral condition with no negative judgment of A.

Formation

Vる＋くらいなら／ぐらいなら＋preferred B

When to use it

Where to use it: It fits a forceful choice, recommendation, or principle: better to lose honestly than win by cheating.
Where not to use it: Do not use it when the options are equal, the speaker likes A, or you only need the ordinary condition 'if A, then B.'

Examples

20 sentences

嫌いきらいな仕事しごとを続けるつづけるくらいなら給料きゅうりょうが下がってさがっても転職てんしょくしたい。
Rather than continue a job I dislike, I would change jobs even if my salary went down.
バスを一時間いちじかん待つまつぐらいなら駅えきまで歩いてあるいて行こういこう。
Rather than wait an hour for the bus, let's walk to the station.
そんな高いたかいパソコンを買うかうくらいなら今いまのパソコンを修理しゅうりして使うつかう。
Rather than buy such an expensive computer, I will repair and keep using my current one.
無理むりに皆みんなに合わせるあわせるぐらいなら一人ひとりで行動こうどうするほうが楽らくだ。
Rather than force myself to fit in with everyone, I find it easier to act on my own.
誰だれにも相談そうだんせずに悩み続けるなやみつづけるくらいなら専門家せんもんかに話したはなしたほうがいい。
Rather than keep worrying without consulting anyone, it is better to talk to a professional.
休日きゅうじつを家いえで何なにもせずに過ごすすごすぐらいなら近所きんじょを散歩さんぽしよう。
Rather than spend the day off doing nothing at home, let's take a walk around the neighborhood.
嘘うそをついて優勝ゆうしょうするくらいなら、正直しょうじきに負けまけたほうがいい。
Rather than win by lying, it is better to lose honestly.
暗いくらい部屋へやで一日いちにち悩むなやむぐらいなら、朝あさの海うみまで走りはしりに行こういこう。
Rather than worry all day in a dark room, let's run to the sea in the morning.

12 more examples

誰かだれかの夢ゆめを笑うわらうくらいなら、自分じぶんの夢ゆめを一つひとつ話しはなしてみて。
Rather than laugh at someone else's dream, try sharing one of your own.
冷めさめた弁当べんとうを捨てるすてるぐらいなら、チャーハンにして食べようたべよう。
Rather than throw away the cold bento, let's turn it into fried rice.
うそをつくくらいなら黙ってだまっていたほうがいいです
It is better to stay silent than to lie.
そんな高いたかい物ものを買うかうくらいなら古いふるい物ものを直しなおします
Rather than buy something that expensive, I will repair the old one.
一時間いちじかんも待つまつくらいなら別べつの店みせへ行きいきましょう
Rather than wait a whole hour, let's go to another shop.
無理むりをして体からだを壊すこわすくらいなら休んだやすんだほうがいいです
It is better to rest than to overwork and damage your health.
嫌いきらいな仕事しごとを続けるつづけるくらいなら新しいあたらしい仕事しごとを探しさがしたいです
Rather than stay in a job I dislike, I want to look for a new one.
けんかをするくらいならしばらく話さはなさないほうがいいです
It is better not to talk for a while than to quarrel.
ごみにしてしまうくらいなら誰かだれかにあげます
Rather than throw it away, I will give it to someone.
急いでいそいで間違えるまちがえるくらいならゆっくりやります
Rather than hurry and make mistakes, I will do it slowly.
約束やくそくを破るやぶるくらいなら最初さいしょから約束やくそくしないほうがいいです
It is better not to promise in the first place than to break a promise.
人ひとに迷惑めいわくをかけるくらいなら自分じぶんでやります
Rather than trouble other people, I will do it myself.

Important notes

B often contains ～ほうがいい, むしろ, a preferable action, or a volitional form.

Common mistakes

Do not lose the disapproval of A; without it the pattern sounds needlessly harsh.
Do not use a past A as an ordinary completed condition; the base pattern takes Vる.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 誰かだれかの夢ゆめを笑うわらうくらいなら、自分じぶんの夢ゆめを一つひとつ話しはなしてみて。 My back pain is so severe that I cannot sleep even at night.Even the same music feels different depending on when you listen to it.Rather than laugh at someone else's dream, try sharing one of your own.
Sentence 2: 嫌いきらいな仕事しごとを続けるつづけるくらいなら新しいあたらしい仕事しごとを探しさがしたいです In some cases a reservation is necessary.Rather than stay in a job I dislike, I want to look for a new one.This box is light enough for even a child to carry.
Sentence 3: 人ひとに迷惑めいわくをかけるくらいなら自分じぶんでやります Different people can interpret the same word differently.About a thousand yen will be enough.Rather than trouble other people, I will do it myself.