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 + A + 都 + (不 / 没) + Verb， 何况 + B + 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

• 我 连 一万 块 都 有，何况 一千 呢？I have 10000 yuan, and you're saying I don't even have 1000?
• 孩子 连 跑 都 会，何况 走路 呢？The child can run, how could he not walk?
• 你 连 那么 难 的 试题 都 会，何况 这么 容易 的 呢？You can answer questions that hard, something like this should be easy, right?

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 连 一千 块钱 都 没有，何况 一万 呢？I don't even have 1000 yuan, let alone 10000.
• 孩子 连 走路 都 不 会，何况 跑 呢？The baby can't even walk, let alone run.
• 你 连 这么 简单 的 试题 都 不 会，何况 那么 难 的 呢？ You couldn't answer a question that easy, and you're kidding yourself you could answer one that hard?

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 ⋯⋯ ，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 都 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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