〜だけまし: This means a situation is not perfect. But it is still better than something worse. It is like saying 'at least...'.

Dictionary

〜だけまし

This means a situation is not perfect. But it is still better than something worse. It is like saying 'at least...'.

N2 KMT5NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedPartial ConcessionGrammar

Verb [dictionary form / た-form] + だけましPrimary

い-Adjective + だけまし

な-Adjective + な + だけまし

This means a situation is not perfect. But it is still better than something worse. It is like saying 'at least...'.

給料は安いけど、ボーナスが出るだけましだ。

My salary is low, but at least I get a bonus.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

財布を落としたけど、中身は無事だっただけましだよ。

I dropped my wallet, but at least the contents were safe.

CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeDaily Life

飛行機は遅れたけど、欠航にならなかっただけましだ。

The plane was delayed, but at least it wasn't cancelled.

NeutralPastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeTravel & Transportation

このアパートは駅から遠いですが、家賃が安いだけましです。

This apartment is far from the station, but at least the rent is cheap.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeHome & Housing

彼は文句ばかり言うけど、手伝ってくれるだけましと考えよう。

He complains all the time, but let's just be grateful that he at least helps.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceVolitionalFamily & Relationships Emotions & Psychology

This phrase is like finding a small good thing in a bad situation. It means things are not great, but they could be much worse. You feel a little bit lucky.

This grammar is different from "〜ないまでも". That grammar means "even if not X, at least Y". For example, "I clean at least once a week, even if not every day." This grammar, "〜だけまし", means a situation is better than it could be. It shows you are happy it is not worse.

Don't use this when something is truly good. For example, if you got a perfect score on a test, don't say "At least I passed." That's good."

Contrasts with(2)

〜ないまでも

This means "even if not X, at least Y." You use it when you cannot do something big (X) but you can do something small (Y).

〜くらいのものだ

This means something is the most you can do. It is the only thing possible. It often shows that the action is not perfect or ideal.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

た形

This shows an action finished in the past. It also shows something that was true before now.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

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Dictionary

〜だけまし

This means a situation is not perfect. But it is still better than something worse. It is like saying 'at least...'.

N2 KMT5NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedPartial ConcessionGrammar

Verb [dictionary form / た-form] + だけましPrimary

い-Adjective + だけまし

な-Adjective + な + だけまし

This means a situation is not perfect. But it is still better than something worse. It is like saying 'at least...'.

給料は安いけど、ボーナスが出るだけましだ。

My salary is low, but at least I get a bonus.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

財布を落としたけど、中身は無事だっただけましだよ。

I dropped my wallet, but at least the contents were safe.

CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeDaily Life

飛行機は遅れたけど、欠航にならなかっただけましだ。

The plane was delayed, but at least it wasn't cancelled.

NeutralPastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeTravel & Transportation

このアパートは駅から遠いですが、家賃が安いだけましです。

This apartment is far from the station, but at least the rent is cheap.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeHome & Housing

彼は文句ばかり言うけど、手伝ってくれるだけましと考えよう。

He complains all the time, but let's just be grateful that he at least helps.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceVolitionalFamily & Relationships Emotions & Psychology

This phrase is like finding a small good thing in a bad situation. It means things are not great, but they could be much worse. You feel a little bit lucky.

Don't use this when something is truly good. For example, if you got a perfect score on a test, don't say "At least I passed." That's good."

Contrasts with(2)

〜ないまでも

This means "even if not X, at least Y." You use it when you cannot do something big (X) but you can do something small (Y).

〜くらいのものだ

This means something is the most you can do. It is the only thing possible. It often shows that the action is not perfect or ideal.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

た形

This shows an action finished in the past. It also shows something that was true before now.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

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Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜だけまし

Patterns3

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with2

Contrasts with(2)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜だけまし

Patterns3

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with2

Contrasts with(2)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery