GRAMMAR
〜ならともかく
it's one thing if ~, but ~
Explanation
NOTE
〜ならともかく means it's one thing if ~, but ~ — used to contrast an acceptable case with an unacceptable one.
子供ならともかく、大人がそんなことをするなんて。
It's one thing if it's a child, but for an adult to do such a thing...
The first item is tolerable; the second (the topic of the main clause) is not.
NOTE
The main clause usually expresses surprise, criticism, or complaint about the second item.
NOTE
Mainly attached to nouns; the meaning is if it were ~, fine, but... (学生 → 学生ならともかく).
STRUCTURE
N辞
ならともかく１日ならともかく、１週間も休むのは困ります。
Ichinichi naratomokaku, isshuukan mo yasumu no wa komarimasu.
If it's for one day, that's fine, but taking a week off is a problem.
少し高い物ならともかく、家を買うのは無理です。
Sukoshi takai mono naratomokaku, ie o kau no wa muri desu.
If it were a slightly expensive item, that would be okay, but buying a house is impossible.
私ならともかく、彼にはまだ早すぎます。
Watashi naratomokaku, kare ni wa mada hayasugimasu.
If it were me, that would be one thing, but it's still too early for him.
新人ならともかく、ベテランがそんなミスをするとは。
Shinjin nara tomokaku, beteran ga sonna misu o suru to wa.
It's one thing if it's a newcomer, but for a veteran to make such a mistake...
無料ならともかく、こんなに高くては買えない。
Muryou nara tomokaku, konna ni takakute wa kaenai.
It's one thing if it were free, but at this price I can't buy it.
昔ならともかく、今はそんな習慣はない。
Mukashi nara tomokaku, ima wa sonna shuukan wa nai.
It's one thing if it were the old days, but there's no such custom now.
Practice exercises
1
万が一、子供ならともかく、大人は許されない。
If it were a child, it would be one thing, but an adult cannot be forgiven, even in the unlikely event.
Answer
ならともかく
2
小さなミスならともかく、重大な問題が起きる様では、許されない。
If it's a small mistake, it's one thing, but if a serious problem were to occur, it wouldn't be forgivable.
Answer
ならともかく
3
単なる誤解ならともかく、これは明らかに意図的な行為だ。
If it's just a simple misunderstanding, it's one thing, but this is clearly an intentional act.
Answer
ならともかく
4
机上の空論ならともかく、現実的な対策が必要だ。
If it's just a theoretical argument, it's one thing, but concrete measures are needed.
Answer
ならともかく
5
緊急時ならともかく、普段に使うものなら、事故が起きるぞ。
If it's an emergency, it's one thing, but if you were to use it normally, an accident would happen!
Answer
ならともかく