Expressing "let alone" with "bie shuo"

别说 (bié shuō) means something like "leaving aside" or "don't think about," and is used in the following way:

Structure

别说 + A ， 连 / 就是+ B + 也 / 都 + Verb

This is similar to English where we might say: "don't think about preparing a banquet, you can't even make instant noodles." Note that this sentence structure is the reverse to the 更不用说 pattern.

Examples

• 别说 一百， 就是 一 块 钱 我 也 不 给 你 。Bié shuō yībǎi, jiùshì yīkuài qián wǒ yě bù gěi nǐ.Don't think about one hundred, I won't even give you one kuai.
• 别说 白酒，连 啤酒 的 味道 我 都 受 不了。Bié shuō báijiǔ, lián píjiǔ de wèidào wǒ dōu shòubuliǎo.Don't even mention baijiu; I can't even stand the taste of beer.
• 别说 英语， 你 说 中文 我 也 不 知道 怎么 回答。Bié shuō Yīngyǔ, nǐ shuō Zhōngwén wǒ yě bù zhīdào zěnme huídá.Forget about English! Even if you speak Chinese, I don't know how to answer.
• 这么 难 的 问题，别说 你，就是 老师 也 不 知道 答案。Zhème nán de wèntí, bié shuō nǐ, jiùshì lǎoshī yě bù zhīdào dá'àn.Such a hard question! Even the teacher doesn't know the answer, let alone you.
• 别说 做 菜 了，他 连 怎么 煮 方便面 都 不 知道。Bié shuō zuò cài le, tā lián zěnme zhǔ fāngbiànmiàn dōu bù zhīdào.Don't even think about cooking. He doesn't even know how to boil instant noodles.
• 别说 旅游 了，他 连 出门 都 不 想 出。Bié shuō lǚyóu le, tā lián chūmén dōu bù xiǎng chū.Don't even mention traveling; he doesn't even want to go outside the house.
• 别说 是 我， 连 你 妈妈 也 不 会 原谅 你。Bié shuō shì wǒ, lián nǐ māma yě bù huì yuánliàng nǐ.Even your own mother won't forgive you, let alone me.
• 这么 贵 的 房子 ，别说 你，就是 我 也 会 想 要 的。Zhème guì de fángzi, bié shuō nǐ, jiùshì wǒ yě huì xiǎng yào de.Such an expensive house! Even I would want it, let alone you.
• 这 件 事情 ，别说 你 ，任何 人 看到 都 会 帮忙 的 。Zhè jiàn shìqing, bié shuō nǐ, rènhé rén kāndào dōu huì bāngmáng de.Anyone who sees the situation would help, let alone you.
• 别说 你 了， 就是 我 弟弟 来 也 要 买 票。 Bié shuō nǐ le, jiùshì wǒ dìdi lái yě yào mǎi piào.Not to mention you, even my brother would have to buy a ticket.

且不说 is more formal than 别说, but is used in the same way.

See also

• "Let Alone" with "hekuang"
• Advanced uses of "lian"
• "Let Alone" with "geng buyong shuo"
• Expressing "Even" with "lian" and "dou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 85) [ →buy]

HSK5