が/も～なら、～も～だ means like father, like son; both are equally bad. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to criticise two parties by linking their shared undesirable traits in one sentence.
This grammar point often appears in commentary, editorials, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to express that one side is no better than the other — or that a situation is rotten all around — が/も～なら、～も～だ is a useful pattern to learn because it packs a strong, disapproving punch into one compact structure.
What does が/も～なら、～も～だ mean?
Use が/も～なら、～も～だ when you want to say that two people, groups, or things are equally bad, hypocritical, or disappointing. It’s the grammar behind the English “like father, like son” or “just as one is terrible, so is the other.”
Natural translations include:
- like (A), like (B); both are equally bad
- if (A) is like that, (B) is no different
- it takes one to know one (in context)
Try to notice the writer’s critical stance first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.
How to form が/も～なら、～も～だ
There are two core patterns. The first is the classic set‑phrase style — you repeat the same noun for both parties.
Formula: N1 も N1 なら、N2 も N2 だ
The second pattern uses が to present a condition, then mirrors it with も on the other side. It’s more flexible and can be used with clauses.
Formula: N1 が clause なら、N2 も … だ
Both forms attach なら to the condition half and close with だ (or です / である). The form before the grammar point matters — the first noun is repeated or followed by a clause. In JLPT questions, wrong answer choices often try to use similar‑looking patterns like ても or ば incorrectly.
When is が/も～なら、～も～だ used?
Use が/も～なら、～も～だ in situations like:
- criticising two people who are each as bad as the other
- pointing out hypocrisy or a double standard
- describing a situation where no side is blameless
Tone and register:
- strong, often a rebuke; used in formal speech, essays, and social commentary
- appears in JLPT N1 reading, particularly in opinion pieces and fictional dialogue where a character is moralising or complaining
It’s rarely used in casual, friendly chat unless you’re making a pointed remark.
が/も～なら、～も～だ example sentences
After reading each sentence, ask what job が/も～なら、～も～だ is doing: tying two parties together under the same negative judgement. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one‑word translation.
Nuance of が/も～なら、～も～だ
The key nuance is no one side is better than the other — both are equally disappointing, hypocritical, or at fault. It’s rarely a neutral observation. The speaker is usually exasperated, moralising, or delivering a scathing critique.
This matters because learners sometimes treat it as a simple parallel structure (“both A and B”). But the pattern carries an intrinsic negative charge. You wouldn’t use it to say “both the cake and the tea are delicious.” Use it only when implying that both things are rotten somehow.
- The も〜なら form (repeating the noun) is the strongest — almost a set phrase of condemnation.
- The が clause なら form is slightly less fixed but still loaded with the sense that one person’s bad behaviour explains or mirrors the other’s.
が/も～なら、～も～だ vs ～といい、～といい
Both が/も～なら、～も～だ and ～といい、～といい can be used to point out negative qualities, but their structures and nuance differ.
If both translations seem possible, check the logic. が/も～なら、～も～だ needs two separate parties and a sense of mirrored fault; ～といい、～といい stays with one target and simply piles on complaints.
Common mistakes with が/も～なら、～も～だ
Is が/も～なら、～も～だ on the JLPT?
Level: JLPT N1
Frequency: moderate — appears in reading comprehension and grammar sections, often as a proverb or in a critical passage.
- Expect to see it in editorials or character dialogue that express frustration.
- Questions may ask you to choose the correct particle (が vs. も) or identify the function (evaluation/criticism).
- Rarely targeted as a stand‑alone grammar question; more likely embedded in longer texts.
Practice questions for が/も～なら、～も～だ
Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the judgement becomes clear.
Learning path for が/も～なら、～も～だ
To learn が/も～なら、～も～だ efficiently, start with the set‑phrase version, then explore the more flexible clause form, and finally contrast it with a similar pattern.
Related grammar to review next
- が早いか — because it also expresses a quick, tight connection between two events, useful when criticising snap reactions
- がましい — because it attaches a negative or ironic “‑like” feel to words, similar to the judgemental tone here
- がてら — because it shows how one action is done alongside another; understanding that parallel structure helps you recognise when a pattern is meant to be critical vs. incidental
- どうにも〜ない — because it conveys hopelessness and fault, often pairing well with が/も～なら、～も～だ in opinion writing
Learn が/も～なら、～も～だ with Hane
If you want to review が/も～なら、～も～だ together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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FAQ about が/も～なら、～も～だ
What does が/も～なら、～も～だ (ga/mo ~ nara, ~ mo ~ da) mean in Japanese?
が/も～なら、～も～だ (ga/mo ~ nara, ~ mo ~ da) means “like father, like son; both are equally bad”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. Use が/も～なら、～も～だ when you want to say that two people, groups, or things are equally bad, hypocritical, or disappointing. It’s the grammar behind the English “like father, like son” or “just as one is terrible, so is the other.
How do you form が/も～なら、～も～だ (ga/mo ~ nara, ~ mo ~ da)?
There are two core patterns. The first is the classic set‑phrase style — you repeat the same noun for both parties. 親 も 親 なら → 子 も 子 だ Formula: N1 も N1 なら、N2 も N2 だ The second pattern uses が to present a condition, then mirrors it with も on the other side.
What is the difference between が/も～なら、～も～だ and ～といい、～といい?
が/も～なら、～も～だ: If A is bad, B is equally bad. ～といい、～といい: Both A and B are bad.
What is an example sentence with が/も～なら、～も～だ (ga/mo ~ nara, ~ mo ~ da)?
親も親なら、子も子だ。 — Like father, like son. (Both are equally bad.)