This phrase means you would rather do something else (B) than do a bad thing (A). It shows you really dislike option A.
Verb [dictionary form] + くらいならPrimary
Noun + の + くらいなら
This phrase means you would rather do something else (B) than do a bad thing (A). It shows you really dislike option A.
あんな人に頭を下げるくらいなら、会社を辞めたほうがましだ。
If it means bowing my head to a person like that, I'd rather quit the company.
不完全な製品を出すくらいなら、発売日を延期するべきです。
Rather than release an incomplete product, we should postpone the release date.
友達に会えなくなるくらいなら、東京の大学へは行きたくない。
If it means I won't be able to see my friends, I'd rather not go to a university in Tokyo.
あのレストランの料理は、食べるくらいなら何も食べないほうがましだった。
The food at that restaurant was so bad, it would have been better to eat nothing at all than to eat it.
彼と結婚するくらいなら、一生独身でいるわ。
I'd rather be single for life than marry him.
This grammar shows you really dislike the first choice. You pick the second choice because the first one is so bad. It's like choosing the 'least worst' option.
This is different from '〜ては'. '〜ては' says something bad will happen if you do X. '〜くらいなら' says you would rather do B than do A. Both A and B are not good. But A is much worse.
Watch out: Do not use '〜くらいなら' for two good things. For example, do not say "I'd rather eat yakiniku than sushi" if you like both. Use '〜より' instead. Use '〜くらいなら' only when the first choice is very bad.
Don't use this when you like the first choice. For example, don't say "If I go on a trip, I'd rather stay home" unless you hate trips.
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