Difference between revisions of "Expressing "let alone" with "hekuang""

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* <em>连</em> 一万 块 <em>都</em> 有,<em>何况</em> 一千 <em>呢</em>?<span class="trans">I have 10000 yuan, and you're saying I don't even have 1000?</span>
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* 孩子 <em>连</em> 跑 <em>都</em> 会,<em>何况</em> 走路 <em>呢</em>?<span class="trans">The child can run, how could he not walk?</span>
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*这 句 话 <em>连</em> 孩子 <em>都</em> 懂 ,<em>何况</em> 大人 <em>呢</em>?<span class="trans">Children can understand what this sentence means, let alone the adults.</span>  
*<em>连</em> 那么 难 的 试题 <em>都</em> 会,<em>何况</em> 这么 容易 的 <em>呢</em>?<span class="trans">You can answer questions that hard, something like this should be easy, right?</span>  
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*<em> 连</em> 那么 难 的 <em>都</em> 会,<em>何况</em> 一个 这么 简单 <em>呢</em>? <span class="trans">He couldn't answer a question that hard, let alone answer one that easy.</span>
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* 我 <em>连</em> 一千 块钱 <em>都</em> 没有,<em>何况</em> 一万 <em>呢</em>?<span class="trans">I don't even have 1000 yuan, let alone 10000.</span>
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*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="trans">My grandmother haven't even taken the high-speed train, let alone the flight.</span>
* 孩子 <em>连</em> 走路 <em>都</em> 不 会,<em>何况</em> 跑 <em>呢</em>?<span class="trans">The baby can't even walk, let alone run.</span>
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*宝宝 <em>连</em> <em>都</em> 不 会,更 <em>何况</em> 跑 <em>呢</em>?<span class="trans">The baby can't even walk, let alone run.</span>
* <em> 连</em> 这么 简单 的 试题 <em>都</em> 不 会,<em>何况</em> 那么 难 的 <em>呢</em>? <span class="trans">You couldn't answer a question that easy, and you're kidding yourself you could answer one that hard?</span>
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*<em>连</em> 他 叫 什么 <em>都</em> 不 知道 ,又 <em>何况</em> 电话 号码 <em>呢</em>?<span class="trans">, something like this should be easy, right?</span>  
  
 
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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.
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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==
 
==何况 in a statement==

Revision as of 07:58, 27 September 2017

Chinese-grammar-wiki-lian.jpg

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

  • 这 句 话 孩子 懂 ,何况 大人 Children can understand what this sentence means, let alone the adults.
  • 那么 难 的 题 会,何况 一个 这么 简单 的 题 He couldn't 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 高铁 没 坐 过 ,何况 飞机 My grandmother haven't even taken the high-speed train, let alone the flight.
  • 宝宝 不 会,更 何况The baby can't even walk, let alone run.
  • 他 叫 什么 不 知道 ,又 何况 他 的 电话 号码 , something like this should be easy, right?

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 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 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 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

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5