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:

别说 + A , 就是/就连 + B + 也 + 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.

Some examples:

  • 别说 做 一 大 桌子 的 菜 了,他 就 连 怎么 煮 方便面 都 不 知道。
  • 别说 一百, 就是 一 块 钱 我 也 不 给 你 。
  • 别说 白酒,就是 啤酒 的 味道 我 也 受 不了。


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

See also