Monday, March 13, 2017

grammar - とまではいかないまでも meaning



--どんな望みも叶える、 とまではいかないまでも 、魔術師としては十分すぎる程価値のある物だ。


It can fullfill every wish, ...., As a magician it has an incredible value.



What does that mean?
Has it any function in this sentence?


I think it is:

と言うまでは=Say something to that degree
行かないまでも=It may not work


と言うまでは行かないまでも=Even if you can't say it with certainty



Answer




「Phrase A + とまではいかないまでも + Phrase B」



means



"(It is) Phrase B if not (totally) Phrase A."




This expression means that it would be an overstatement if the speaker used Phrase A to describe something, so he would just describe it using Phrase B.



"It is more than a valuable item for a magician if not something that will fulfill every wish."



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