Expressing "let alone" with "hekuang"

何况 (hékuàng) can mean "let alone" or "all the more." It can be used in the following structure:

何况 within a rhetorical question

Structure

Subj. + 连 ⋯⋯ 都 + (不 / 没) + Verb ，(更 / 又 +) 何况 ⋯⋯ 呢 ？

呢 often appears at the end of this structure, to form a rhetorical question.

何况 can be used in two ways, the first of which where 何况 is used to emphasize that A is easier than B.

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.

• 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.

See also

• "Let alone" with "bie shuo"
• "Let Alone" with "geng buyong shuo"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 278-9) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 136) →buy

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