ならいざ知らず
JLPT Level: N1
Meanings
As for X, it’s a different matter
I don’t know about X; maybe for Y it would be possible
X being the case, but Y is not the same
For X it might be acceptable, but for X it’s unlikely/irrelevant
Usage
Noun + ならいざ知らず
Plain verb/Adjective/Na-adjective + ならいざ知らず
Xならいざ知らず, Y
Explanation
ならいざ知らず is used to contrast two things, emphasizing that what follows is less likely, less appropriate, or more difficult than what was just mentioned. The thing before ならいざ知らず is treated as a special case or exception; the speaker acknowledges that the first part is acceptable, possible, or understandable in its own right, but not in comparison with the second part. It often introduces a more difficult, unrealistic, or inappropriate scenario to be contrasted with a more favorable or typical one. Typical contexts involve shifting from a relatively easy or obvious case to a much harder or less appropriate one.
体力がある人ならいざ知らず、私のような年配者にはこの山道はきつい。
たいりょくがあるひとならいざしらず、わたしのようなねんぱいしゃにはこのやまみちはきつい。
If you’re physically fit, that’s one thing, but this mountain path is tough for someone like me, an older person.
子どものことならいざ知らず、大人がそんなミスをするとは信じられない。
こどものことならいざしらず、おとながそんなミスをするとはしんじられない。
That might be understandable when it comes to children, but I can’t believe an adult would make such a mistake.
プロの選手ならいざ知らず、私たち一般人にはそのレベルの技術はまだ無理だ。
プロのせんしゅならいざしらず、わたしたちいっぱんじんにはそのレベルのぎじゅつはまだむりだ。
If one were a professional athlete, perhaps; for us ordinary people, that level of skill is still beyond us.
大学院生ならいざ知らず、社会人にはこの研究は難しい。
だいがくいんせいならいざしらず、しゃかいじんにはこのけんきゅうはむずかしい。
Graduate students might manage it, but for working professionals, this research is difficult.