Grammar ～くらいなら／ぐらいなら

～くらいなら／～ぐらいなら

Rather... than...

Structure

Vる＋くらいなら

Explanation

Expresses a choice: 'would rather A than B'; A may be undesirable but acceptable, while B is worse.

Examples

1途中（とちゅう）でやめるくらいなら、初（はじ）めからやらないほうがいい。

If you're going to quit halfway, it's better not to start in the first place.

2お金（かね）のためにいやな仕事（しごと）をするくらいなら、貧（まず）しくてもいい。

I'd rather be poor than do a job I hate for money.

3あいつに謝（あやま）るくらいなら、死（し）んだほうがましだ。

I'd rather die than apologize to that guy.

4「練習（れんしゅう）が辛（から）くて泣（な）くぐらいなら、やめてしまいなさい」

If practice is so hard that it makes you cry, then quit.

Note

1) Easily confused with ～たほうがいい. → ～くらいなら means 'I'd rather A than B', where A is the less bad option.2) The latter clause is often the option judged worse. → Many sentences are used to negate/advise against B.3) Not a comparative of degree 'about'. → くらい here is a choice-structure, not a quantity meaning.