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 shòu bùliǎo.Don't even mention baijiu, I can't even stand the taste of beer.
• 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.Don't even mention you, the teacher can't even know the answer to such a difficult question.
• 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.

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