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〜ならいざ知らず・〜はいざ知らず

X would be one thing, but; I don't know about X, but

Noun / Plain form + ならいざ知らず · Noun + はいざ知らず

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ならいざ知らず sets aside a case where something might be understandable, to criticise the actual case: 子どもならいざ知らず、大人がそんなことをするなんて, "from a child, maybe, but for an adult to do that…".

The first half is an easier case (a child, an amateur, the old days, a single time), and the second half is the real situation, which is less excusable. The tone is critical or surprised.

はいざ知らず separates yourself from others: 他の人はいざ知らず、私は反対だ, "I don't know about anyone else, but I'm against it".

いざ知らず is literally "I don't know (about that)". ならまだしも and ならともかく are close, more everyday relatives.

Examples

  • 子こどもならいざ知しらず、大人おとながそんなことをするなんて。

    From a child, maybe, but for an adult to do something like that!

  • 昔むかしならいざ知しらず、今いまどきそんな考かんがえは通用つうようしない。

    It might have worked in the old days, but that kind of thinking doesn't fly today.

  • 素人しろうとならいざ知しらず、プロがこんなミスをするとは。

    From an amateur, perhaps, but a professional making a mistake like this?

  • 一度いちどならいざ知しらず、何度なんども同おなじことを言いわせるな。

    Once would be one thing, but don't make me say the same thing over and over.

  • 他ほかの人ひとはいざ知しらず、私わたしは反対はんたいだ。

    I don't know about anyone else, but I'm against it.

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