日本語道場
Nihongo Dojo — N3 → N2
N2
~ないまでも
~nai made mo
even if not... at least
When to use it
Use ~ないまでも in writing or formal speech to concede that a maximal outcome won't be reached, while asserting a lesser but still meaningful one: "even if we can't X, at least Y." It's common in reports, proposals and negotiation where you want to lower expectations without sounding defeatist. The second clause must be a genuinely smaller step than the first — reversing the order sounds broken.
Formation
Examples
Even if it's not perfect, I want to submit it in some shape.
Even if it doesn't lead to a contract, I'd like to keep the connection.
While we can't call it profitable, we did avoid a loss.
Even if we don't roll it out company-wide, let's try it within the department first.
Even if it's not detailed, please at least report the outline.