once ~, if ever ~

Advanced

20-30 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Once something happens, bad consequence inevitably follows.

[Verb た] + が最後

彼に秘密を話したが最後、すぐに広まる。

Kare ni himitsu wo hanashita ga saigo, sugu ni hiromaru.

Once you tell him a secret, it immediately spreads.

始めたが最後、止められない。

Hajimeta ga saigo, tomerarenai.

Once you start, you can't stop.

Strong warning about inevitable negative consequence.

～ならいざ知らず

~ might be one thing, but; leaving ~ aside

～てやまない

earnestly wish/hope, never stop ~ing

～をものともせずに

not being daunted by ~, in spite of ~

～んがため(に)

in order to ~, for the purpose of ~ (formal/literary)

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 10

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