Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 8: 18/22

だけましだAt least, It's better than..., One should feel grateful for

Structure

Verb + だけまし + だ
［い］Adjective + だけまし + だ
［な］Adjective + な + だけまし + だ
Noun + である + だけまし + だ

Details

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About だけましだ

だけましだ is a set phrase indicating that 'at least (A)', or that 'one should feel grateful for (A)'. This expression is often used in cases where the overall situation is negative, but it is still better than the alternative. This structure is a combination of the particle だけ 'only', and the な-Adjective 増(ま)し, meaning 'better', or 'preferable'. Originally, まし is just the conjunctive form of 増(ま)す, an う-Verb meaning to grow or increase (like 増(ふ)える). Due to this, the literal meaning is 'even just (A) is a plus, compared to what could have occured'.

だけましだ will be used primarily after verbs, い-Adjectives, or な-Adjectives followed by な.

In the vast majority of cases, まし will simply be written in hiragana, or even katakana as マシ. The katakana version often further emphasizes that one should be grateful for (A).

Caution - Although not as common, だけまだましだ may also be seen. As can be seen by the addition of まだ 'still', this form merely emphasized the point even further.

  • 今日(きょう)はいつもより寒(さむ)いけど、風(かぜ)が吹(ふ)いていないだけまだましだ。
    It is colder than usual today, but at least it's not windy.

Examples

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    ご馳走(ちそう)とは言(い)えないが、食(た)べるものがあるだけましだ。

    I can't say that I feasted, but at least I had something to eat.

    古(ふる)い校舎(こうしゃ)だが、冷房(れいぼう)があるだけましだ。

    The school building is old, but at least it has air conditioning.

    あんな大事故(だいじこ)が起(お)きたのだから、命(いのち)があるだけましだ。

    Since such a big accident occured, you should be grateful that you are still alive.

    泥棒(どろぼう)に入(はい)られたが、金庫(きんこ)が無事(ぶじ)なだけましだ。

    A robber broke in, but I should be grateful that the safe is intact.

    上手(じょうず)な部員(ぶいん)はいなくても、部(ぶ)に後輩(こうはい)がいるだけましです。

    Even if there are no skilled staff, there are at least some kouhai in the department.

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      だけましだ – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

      • FredKore

        FredKore

        Can someone explain the form of the verb 振 in this sentence?
        彼はやり方が強引だが、暴力を振るわない だけましです 。
        I don’t understand 振るわない.
        …Maybe it should be は?
        If it is, is it being used like this, “at least”?
        https://www.bunpro.jp/grammar_points/634

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        @FredKore Hey! In this case, 振るう is a verb meaning “to exercise,” “to wield,” “to exhibit,” or “to display” violence. So, this example sentence is probably closer to “You should be glad that he does not exhibit violence in his (overbearing) way of doing things.” Cheers!

      • FredKore

        FredKore

        Oh!! I was thinking 振る. What a weird verb. Good vocab word though.
        Thanks for the explanation!

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