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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
何况 (hékuàng) can mean "let alone" or "all the more". It can be used in the following structure:
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何况 (hékuàng) can mean "let alone" or "all the more."
  
 
==何况 within a rhetorical question==
 
==何况 within a rhetorical question==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
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Subj. + 连 ⋯⋯ 都 + Verb ,何况 ⋯⋯ 呢 ?
Subject + 连 + A + + (不/没) + Verb, 何况 + B + 呢?
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
呢 often appears at the end of this structure, to form a rhetorical question.
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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.
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何况 can be used in two ways, the first of which where 何况 is used to emphasize that if A is like this, then B must be even more so.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 +
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我  <em>连</em> 一千 块钱 <em>都</em> 没有,<em>何况</em> 一万 <em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">(I don't even have 1000 yuan, and you reckon I have 10000?)</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="pinyin">Zhè jù huà <em>lián</em> háizi <em>dōu</em> dǒng, <em>hékuàng</em> dàrén <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Children can understand what this sentence means, let alone the adults.</span>  
* 小孩儿 <em></em> 走路 <em></em> 不 会,<em>何况</em> <em></em><span class="expl">(The baby can't even stand, and you're thinking he can already walk?)</span>
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*<em>连</em> 那么 难 <em>都</em> 会,<em>何况</em> 一个 这么 简单 <em>呢</em>?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lián</em> nàme nán de tí <em>dōu</em> huì, <em>hékuàng</em> yī gè zhème jiǎndān de tí <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">He can answer a question that hard, let alone answer one that easy.</span>
* <em> 连</em> 这么 简单 试题 <em>都</em> 会,<em>何况</em> 那么 难 的 <em>呢</em>? <span class="expl">(You couldn't answer a question that easy, and you're kidding yourself you could answer one that hard?)</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
In the above examples: as A is so hard, B would almost be impossible.
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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.
  
This structure can be directly reversed to mean the opposite; that is, A is harder than B.
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<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + 连 ⋯⋯ 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb ,何况 ⋯⋯ 呢 ?
 +
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我 <em>连</em> 一万块钱<em>都</em> 有,<em>何况</em> 一千 <em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">(I'm earning 10000 a month, and you're saying I couldn't even earn 1000?)</span>  
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* 小孩儿 <em>连</em> <em>都</em> 会,<em>何况</em> 走路 <em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">(The child can even recite poetry, how could he not be able to speak?)</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="pinyin">Wǒ nǎinai <em>lián</em> gāotiě <em>dōu</em> méi zuòguò, <em>hékuàng</em> fēijī <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">My grandmother hasn't even taken the high-speed train, let alone the airplane.</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="expl">(You can answer questions that hard, how could something like this be hard for you?)</span>     
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*宝宝 <em>连</em> <em>都</em> 不 会,更 <em>何况</em> <em>呢</em>?<span class="pinyin">Bǎobǎo <em>lián</em> zǒu <em>dōu</em> bù huì, gèng <em>hékuàng</em> pǎo <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">The baby can't even walk, let alone run.</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="pinyin">Wǒ <em>lián</em> tā jiào shénme <em>dōu</em> bù zhīdào, yòu <em>hékuàng</em> tā de diànhuà hàomǎ <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I don't even know what his name is, let alone his phone number.</span>     
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</div>
 
</div>
  
In the above sentences, as A is so easy, then B must be even easier.
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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 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==
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subject + (都)+ A, 何况 + B!
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Subj. (+ 尚且) + 都 / 就 ⋯⋯ ,(更)何况 ⋯⋯
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 本地人 经常 会 迷路 的,<em>何况</em> 外地人!
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* 这个 地方 本来 就 不好找,更<em>何况</em> 你 是 第一 次 来!
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*他 在家  <strong>就</strong> 不 爱 说话 ,<em>何况</em> 是 在 外面 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā zài jiā  <strong>jiù</strong> bù ài shuōhuà, <em>hékuàng</em> shì zài wàimiàn?</span><span class="trans">He don't talk much at home, let alone on public occasion.</span>
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*这个 东西 两 个 男人  <strong></strong> 搬 不 动 ,<em>何况</em> 一 个 女人 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi liǎng gè nánrén <strong>dōu</strong> bān bù dòng, <em>hékuàng</em> yī gè nǚrén?</span><span class="trans">Two men can't move this this, let alone a single woman.</span>
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*这个 地方 本来 <strong></strong> 不 好 找 ,更<em>何况</em> 你 是 第一 次 来 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang běnlái <strong>jiù</strong> bù hǎo zhǎo, gèng <em>hékuàng</em> nǐ shì dì-yī cì lái?</span><span class="trans">This place has always been hard to find, especially on your first time.</span>
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*大人 <strong>尚且</strong> 做 不 到 ,更<em>何况</em> 孩子 ?<span class="pinyin">Dàrén <strong>shàngqiě</strong> zuò bù dào, gèng <em>hékuàng</em> háizi?</span><span class="trans">Adults can't even do this, let alone children.</span>
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*中国 人 <strong>尚且</strong> 不 了解 ,更<em>何况</em> 外国 人 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó rén <strong>shàngqiě</strong> bù liǎojiě, gèng <em>hékuàng</em> wàiguó rén?</span><span class="trans">Chinese people don't even know much about it, let alone foreigners.</span>
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== 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) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 136) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
 
  
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
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{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|278-9}}
{{Basic Grammar|连|B2|连……都(也)……,何况……|<em>连</em> 小李 都 同意 了 , <em>何况</em> 小张。|grammar point|ASG3ZS9G}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|136}}
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|108}}
 +
 
 +
[[Category: C1 grammar points]]
 +
{{Basic Grammar|连|C1|连⋯⋯都(也)⋯⋯,何况⋯⋯|<em>连</em> 小李 都 同意 了 , <em>何况</em> 小张。|grammar point|ASG3ZS9G}}
 
{{Rel char|何况}}
 
{{Rel char|何况}}
 
{{Similar|"Let alone" with "bie shuo"}}
 
{{Similar|"Let alone" with "bie shuo"}}
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{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing determination}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing determination}}
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{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
 
{{Subprop|Let alone}}
 
{{Subprop|Let alone}}

Latest revision as of 02:07, 7 April 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki-lian.jpg

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 if A is like this, then B must be even more so.

Examples

  • 这 句 话 孩子 懂 ,何况 大人 Zhè jù huà lián háizi dōu dǒng, hékuàng dàrén ne?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 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 高铁 没 坐 过 ,何况 飞机 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 不 会,更 何况Bǎobǎo lián zǒu dōu bù huì, gèng hékuàng pǎo ne?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 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 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 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 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

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK6