Decoded Slug: Noun はいざ知らず (~ wa iza shirazu)
Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
Noun はいざ知らず (~ wa iza shirazu)
Noun はいざ知らず (~ wa iza shirazu)
Short explanation:
Used to express that it's understood why 'A' would be the case but not 'B'. It's like saying 'Well, I can understand it for A, but for B...?'
Formation:
Noun + はいざ知らず, Noun + だけど/しかし/とは言え
Examples:
彼が遅れるのはいざ知らず、彼女まで遅刻するとは意外だ。
Kare ga okureru no wa iza shirazu, kanojo made chikoku suru towa igai da.
Well, I can understand him being late, but even her...? That's surprising.
夏はいざ知らず、冬にアイスクリームを食べるのは寒すぎませんか？
Natsu wa iza shirazu, fuyu ni aisukurimu wo taberu no wa samusugimasen ka?
Well, I can understand eating ice cream in the summer, but in the winter...isn't it too cold?
子供がテレビゲームに夢中になるのはいざ知らず、大人までそんなに夢中になるとは思わなかった。
Kodomo ga terebi geemu ni muchuu ni naru no wa iza shirazu, otona made sonnani muchuu ni naru towa omowanakatta.
I can see why kids get hooked on video games, but I didn't think even adults would get that absorbed.
苦しい時はいざ知らず、平時でもそんなに努力するなんてすばらしい。
Kurushii toki wa iza shirazu, heiji demo sonnani doryoku suru nante subarashii.
Well, I can understand making such an effort in times of hardship, but to do so even in normal times is impressive.
Long explanation:
The はいざ知らず grammar point is used when making a comparison between two things: the first being a logical or natural consequence or situation, whilst the second is more surprising or unexpected. It is often translated to English as 'Well, it's understandable for..., but for...' or 'I can see why...but ...?'
