Expressing "let alone" with "bie shuo"

别说 (bié shuō) means something like "leaving aside" or "don't think about," and is used in the following way:

Structure

别说 + A ， 连 / 就是+ B + 也 / 都 + Verb

This is similar to English where we might say: "don't think about preparing a banquet, you can't even make instant noodles." Note that this sentence structure is the reverse to the 更不用说 pattern.

Examples

• 别说 一百， 就是 一 块 钱 我 也 不 给 你 。Bié shuō yībǎi, jiùshì yīkuài qián wǒ yě bù gěi nǐ.Don't think about one hundred, I won't even give you one kuai.
• 别说 爱 我， 你 要是 爱 我，就 不 会 离开 我 了。Bié shuō ài wǒ, nǐ yàoshi ài wǒ, jiù bù huì líkāi wǒ le.Don't say you love me, if you love me, you won't leave me.
• 别说 白酒，连 啤酒 的 味道 我 都 受 不了。Bié shuō báijiǔ, lián píjiǔ de wèidào wǒ dōu shòubuliǎo.Don't even mention baijiu, I can't even stand the taste of beer.
• 别说 英语， 你 说 中文 我 也 不 知道 怎么 回答。Bié shuō Yīngyǔ, nǐ shuō Zhōngwén wǒ yě bù zhīdào zěnme huídá.Don't say English, if you speak Chinese, I don't even know how to answer.
• 这么 难 的 问题，别说 你，就是 老师 也 不 知道 答案。Zhème nán de wèntí, bié shuō nǐ, jiùshì lǎoshī yě bù zhīdào dá'àn.Don't even mention you, the teacher can't even know the answer to such a difficult question.
• 别说 做 菜 了，他 连 怎么 煮 方便面 都 不 知道。Bié shuō zuò cài le, tā lián zěnme zhǔ fāngbiànmiàn dōu bù zhīdào.Don't even think about cooking. He doesn't even know how to boil instant noodles.
• 别说 旅游 了，他 连 出门 都 不 想 出。Bié shuō lǚyóu le, tā lián chūmén dōu bù xiǎng chū.Don't talk about traveling, he doesn't even want to go out.
• 别说 是 我， 连 你妈妈 也 不 会 原谅 你。Bié shuō shì wǒ, lián nǐ māma yě bù huì yuánliàng nǐ.Don't say it's me, even your mother won't forgive you.
• 这么 贵 的房子，别说 你，就是 我 也 会 想 要 的。Zhème guì de fángzi, bié shuō nǐ, jiùshì wǒ yě huì xiǎng yào de.Such an expensive house, not to mention you, even I would want it.
• 这件事情，别说 你，任何人 看到 都 会 帮忙的。Zhè jiàn shìqing, bié shuō nǐ, rènhé rén kāndào dōu huì bāngmáng de.Anyone who sees this, not to mention you, will help.

且不说 is more formal than 别说, but is used in the same way.

See also

• "Let Alone" with "hekuang"
• Advanced uses of "lian"
• "Let Alone" with "geng buyong shuo"
• Expressing "Even" with "lian" and "dou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 85) [ →buy]

HSK5