Difference between revisions of "Expressing "let alone" with "hekuang""
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| − | 何况 (hékuàng) can mean "let alone" or "all the more" | + | {{Grammar Box}} |
| + | 何况 (hékuàng) can mean "let alone" or "all the more." | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==何况 within a rhetorical question== | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | Subj. + 连 ⋯⋯ 都 + Verb ，何况 ⋯⋯ 呢 ？ | |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | 呢 often appears at the end of this structure, to form a rhetorical question. | + | 呢 often appears at the end of this structure, to form a rhetorical question. 更 or 又 can be added to 何况 to add further emphasis. |
| − | 何况 can be used in two ways, the first of which where 何况 is used to emphasize that A is | + | 何况 can be used in two ways, the first of which where 何况 is used to emphasize that if A is like this, then B must be even more so. |
| + | |||
| + | === Examples === | ||
| − | |||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | |
| − | + | *这 句 话 <em>连</em> 孩子 <em>都</em> 懂 ，<em>何况</em> 大人 <em>呢</em>？<span class="pinyin">Zhè jù huà <em>lián</em> háizi <em>dōu</em> dǒng, <em>hékuàng</em> dàrén <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Children can understand what this sentence means, let alone the adults.</span> | |
| − | * | + | *他 <em>连</em> 那么 难 的 题 <em>都</em> 会，<em>何况</em> 一个 这么 简单 的 题 <em>呢</em>？<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lián</em> nàme nán de tí <em>dōu</em> huì, <em>hékuàng</em> yī gè zhème jiǎndān de tí <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">He can answer a question that hard, let alone answer one that easy.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | In the above | + | In the above sentences, as A is so easy, then B must be even easier. However if one adds a 不 or 没 before the verb then the meaning is reversed: now A is so hard, B would almost be impossible. |
| − | + | <div class="jiegou"> | |
| + | Subj. + 连 ⋯⋯ 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb ，何况 ⋯⋯ 呢 ？ | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | + | *我 奶奶 <em>连</em> 高铁 <em>都</em> 没 坐 过 ，<em>何况</em> 飞机 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǎinai <em>lián</em> gāotiě <em>dōu</em> méi zuòguò, <em>hékuàng</em> fēijī <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">My grandmother hasn't even taken the high-speed train, let alone the airplane.</span> | |
| + | *宝宝 <em>连</em> 走 <em>都</em> 不 会，更 <em>何况</em> 跑 <em>呢</em>？<span class="pinyin">Bǎobǎo <em>lián</em> zǒu <em>dōu</em> bù huì, gèng <em>hékuàng</em> pǎo <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">The baby can't even walk, let alone run.</span> | ||
| + | *我 <em>连</em> 他 叫 什么 <em>都</em> 不 知道 ，又 <em>何况</em> 他 的 电话 号码 <em>呢</em>？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>lián</em> tā jiào shénme <em>dōu</em> bù zhīdào, yòu <em>hékuàng</em> tā de diànhuà hàomǎ <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I don't even know what his name is, let alone his phone number.</span> | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | 何况 doesn't necessarily have to be used with the 连⋯⋯ 都⋯⋯ structure, and can be used as a simple statement instead of a rhetorical question. | |
| − | 何况 | + | ==何况 in a statement== |
| − | + | === Structure === | |
| + | |||
| + | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| + | Subj. (+ 尚且) + 都 / 就 ⋯⋯ ，（更）何况 ⋯⋯ | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Examples === | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 他 | + | |
| − | * | + | *他 在家 <strong>就</strong> 不 爱 说话 ，<em>何况</em> 是 在 外面 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā zài jiā <strong>jiù</strong> bù ài shuōhuà, <em>hékuàng</em> shì zài wàimiàn?</span><span class="trans">He don't talk much at home, let alone on public occasion.</span> |
| − | * 这个 地方 本来 | + | *这个 东西 两 个 男人 <strong>都</strong> 搬 不 动 ，<em>何况</em> 一 个 女人 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi liǎng gè nánrén <strong>dōu</strong> bān bù dòng, <em>hékuàng</em> yī gè nǚrén?</span><span class="trans">Two men can't move this this, let alone a single woman.</span> |
| + | *这个 地方 本来 <strong>就</strong> 不 好 找 ，更<em>何况</em> 你 是 第一 次 来 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang běnlái <strong>jiù</strong> bù hǎo zhǎo, gèng <em>hékuàng</em> nǐ shì dì-yī cì lái?</span><span class="trans">This place has always been hard to find, especially on your first time.</span> | ||
| + | *大人 <strong>尚且</strong> 做 不 到 ，更<em>何况</em> 孩子 ？<span class="pinyin">Dàrén <strong>shàngqiě</strong> zuò bù dào, gèng <em>hékuàng</em> háizi?</span><span class="trans">Adults can't even do this, let alone children.</span> | ||
| + | *中国 人 <strong>尚且</strong> 不 了解 ，更<em>何况</em> 外国 人 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó rén <strong>shàngqiě</strong> bù liǎojiě, gèng <em>hékuàng</em> wàiguó rén?</span><span class="trans">Chinese people don't even know much about it, let alone foreigners.</span> | ||
| + | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
何况 is often used with 尚且, a formal way of saying 还. 更 can be added to 何况 to add further emphasis. | 何况 is often used with 尚且, a formal way of saying 还. 更 can be added to 何况 to add further emphasis. | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[["Let alone" with "bie shuo"]] | ||
| + | *[["Let Alone" with "geng buyong shuo"]] | ||
== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
=== Books === | === Books === | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | {{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|278-9}} | ||
| + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|136}} | ||
| + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|108}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category: C1 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{Basic Grammar|连|C1|连⋯⋯都（也）⋯⋯，何况⋯⋯|<em>连</em> 小李 都 同意 了 ， <em>何况</em> 小张。|grammar point|ASG3ZS9G}} | ||
| + | {{Rel char|何况}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|"Let alone" with "bie shuo"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|"Let Alone" with "geng buyong shuo"}} | ||
| + | {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} | ||
| + | {{Used for|Expressing determination}} | ||
| + | {{Used for|Expressing attitude}} | ||
| + | {{Subprop|Let alone}} | ||
Latest revision as of 02:07, 7 April 2021
何况 (hékuàng) can mean "let alone" or "all the more."
Contents
何况 within a rhetorical question
Structure
Subj. + 连 ⋯⋯ 都 + Verb ，何况 ⋯⋯ 呢 ？
呢 often appears at the end of this structure, to form a rhetorical question. 更 or 又 can be added to 何况 to add further emphasis.
何况 can be used in two ways, the first of which where 何况 is used to emphasize that if A is like this, then B must be even more so.
Examples
- 这 句 话 连 孩子 都 懂 ，何况 大人 呢？Children can understand what this sentence means, let alone the adults.
- 他 连 那么 难 的 题 都 会，何况 一个 这么 简单 的 题 呢？He can answer a question that hard, let alone answer one that easy.
In the above sentences, as A is so easy, then B must be even easier. However if one adds a 不 or 没 before the verb then the meaning is reversed: now A is so hard, B would almost be impossible.
Subj. + 连 ⋯⋯ 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb ，何况 ⋯⋯ 呢 ？
- 我 奶奶 连 高铁 都 没 坐 过 ，何况 飞机 呢 ？My grandmother hasn't even taken the high-speed train, let alone the airplane.
- 宝宝 连 走 都 不 会，更 何况 跑 呢？The baby can't even walk, let alone run.
- 我 连 他 叫 什么 都 不 知道 ，又 何况 他 的 电话 号码 呢？I don't even know what his name is, let alone his phone number.
何况 doesn't necessarily have to be used with the 连⋯⋯ 都⋯⋯ structure, and can be used as a simple statement instead of a rhetorical question.
何况 in a statement
Structure
Subj. (+ 尚且) + 都 / 就 ⋯⋯ ，（更）何况 ⋯⋯
Examples
- 他 在家 就 不 爱 说话 ，何况 是 在 外面 ？He don't talk much at home, let alone on public occasion.
- 这个 东西 两 个 男人 都 搬 不 动 ，何况 一 个 女人 ？Two men can't move this this, let alone a single woman.
- 这个 地方 本来 就 不 好 找 ，更何况 你 是 第一 次 来 ？This place has always been hard to find, especially on your first time.
- 大人 尚且 做 不 到 ，更何况 孩子 ？Adults can't even do this, let alone children.
- 中国 人 尚且 不 了解 ，更何况 外国 人 ？Chinese people don't even know much about it, let alone foreigners.
何况 is often used with 尚且, a formal way of saying 还. 更 can be added to 何况 to add further emphasis.
