Decoded Slug: ～だけましだ (〜dake mashi da)
Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
～だけましだ (〜dake mashi da)
～だけましだ (〜dake mashi da)
Short explanation:
Express a comparison; 'better than', 'at least', 'preferable'.
Formation:
Verb-casual + だけましだ, い-Adjective + だけましだ, な-Adjective + だけましだ, Noun + だけましだ
Examples:
失敗するだけましだ。
Shippai suru dake mashi da.
At least it's better than failing.
遅れるだけましだ。
Okureru dake mashi da.
It's better than being late.
小さな部屋だけましだ。
Chiisana heya dake mashi da.
A small room is preferable to no room.
彼が結婚しないだけましだ。
Kare ga kekkon shinai dake mashi da.
At least it's better than him not getting married.
Long explanation:
The ～だけましだ grammar point is used to express a comparison between two undesirable situations, indicating that one is less undesirable, or preferable than the other. It can be translated as 'better than', 'at least', or 'preferable' in English. The formation differs depending on whether it is used with a verb, い-adjective, な-adjective, or noun.
