ならいざしらず
"X might be one thing, but…" The speaker sets aside X as a case that could be an exception or is not at issue, then states that the actual case is different. The second clause is often a negative or firm judgment, but it can also be a plain statement of fact.
Verb (plain form)The plain (non-ます) forms of a verb: affirmative or negative, non-past or past.
行く・行かない・行った・行かなかった
The dictionary form is only one of these: 行く.
i-adj. (plain form)The plain (non-です) forms of an i-adjective: affirmative or negative, non-past or past.
高い・高くない・高かった・高くなかった
The dictionary form is only one of these: 高い. The polite version adds です to the plain form.
na-adj. stemA na-adjective without な, i.e. the form listed in a dictionary.
静か・きれい・好き
Add な before a noun (静かな部屋); as a predicate, follow it with だ／です (静かだ).
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A formal, somewhat literary expression used in writing, speeches and serious argument. X is an exceptional or easily excused case, or another time or situation, as in 昔はいざしらず、今は誰もがスマホを持っている. The main clause describes the actual case, often with わけがない or 許されない, though a neutral contrasting fact is also possible. Unlike はともかく or はさておき, which simply put a topic aside, it implies "X might be different, but…"
Do not use it as a plain conditional; it contrasts X with the actual case, which is judged or described differently.
Note that X should be the case where the statement would be more acceptable or different, not the case being criticized.
Learners should make the main clause about the actual case; it is often a negative judgment but can simply state a contrasting fact.
- 1.はともかくN2「はともかく」merely sets A aside for the moment and moves the topic on to B; it does not stress that A is an exception contrasting with B. It is neutral in style, the second clause can be an action or a proposal, and it can also attach to 「かどうか」or to a clause containing a question word.
- 2.はさておきN1「はさておき」only sets the first item aside without evaluating it and can also shift the topic, whereas 「ならいざしらず」stresses that the first item is an exception forming a contrast with the second. The former is neutral in style while the latter leans toward written style, so the two are generally not interchangeable.
- 3.にしてもN2「にしても」is concessive, meaning 'even if X, ...': it grants X and still goes on to make a judgment or request; 「ならいざしらず」treats X as an exception and the second clause describes a different situation, so the two are generally not interchangeable. 「にしても」is neutral in style and also has a parallel (coordinate) use.
- 4.といえどもN1「といえども」means 'even X is no exception,' so X itself cannot be an exception; 「ならいざしらず」instead allows X to be an exception, with the second clause describing a different situation. The two are logically opposite and not interchangeable, and both lean toward written style.
- 5.にしたってN1「にしたって」is concessive (even if the first item holds, the second still applies) or means 'even someone...'; 「ならいざしらず」treats the first item as an exception and stresses that the second is the opposite. The former is colloquial and the latter written, so they are not interchangeable.
- 6.としたら / とすればN3「としたら／とすれば」is a true hypothetical, with the second clause drawing an inference or conclusion from it; in 「ならいざしらず」the first item is merely an exception used for contrast, and the second clause states the actual situation that is the opposite, which is also more written in style. The two are not interchangeable.
はともかく and はさておき merely set X aside, and としたら / とすれば pose a pure hypothesis. にしても, にしたって and といえども are concessive ("even if X") and apply the main clause to X as well, whereas ならいざしらず treats X as the possible exception.
