Expressing "let alone" with "hekuang"

何况 (hékuàng) can mean "let alone" or "all the more."

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 A is easier than B.

Examples

• 这 句 话 连 孩子 都 懂 ，何况 大人 呢？Zhè jù huà lián háizi dōu dǒng, hékuàng dàrén ne?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？Tā lián nàme nán de tí dōu huì, hékuàng yī gè zhème jiǎndān de tí ne?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 ？Wǒ nǎinai lián gāotiě dōu méi zuòguò, hékuàng fēijī ne?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？Bǎobǎo lián zǒu dōu bù huì, gèng hékuàng pǎo ne?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？Wǒ lián tā jiào shénme dōu bù zhīdào, yòu hékuàng tā de diànhuà hàomǎ ne?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 ？Tā zài jiā jiù bù ài shuōhuà, hékuàng shì zài wàimiàn?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 ？Zhège dōngxi liǎng gè nánrén dōu bān bù dòng, hékuàng yī gè nǚrén?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 ？Zhège dìfang běnlái jiù bù hǎo zhǎo, gèng hékuàng nǐ shì dì-yī cì lái?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 ？Dàrén shàngqiě zuò bù dào, gèng hékuàng háizi?Adults can't even do this, let alone children.
• 中国 人 尚且 不 了解 ，更何况 外国 人 ？Zhōngguó rén shàngqiě bù liǎojiě, gèng hékuàng wàiguó rén?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) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 136) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• HSK Standard Course 5上 (pp. 108) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

HSK6