Expressing "let alone" with "hekuang"

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何况 (hékuàng) can mean "let alone" or "all the more". It can be used in the following structure:

Structure

Subject + 连 + A + 都 + Verb, 何况 + B + 呢?

呢 often appears at the end of this structure, to form a rhetorical question.

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

  • 一千 块钱 没有,何况 一万 (I don't even have 1000 yuan, and you reckon I have 10000?)
  • 小孩儿 走路 不 会,何况(The baby can't even stand, and you're thinking he can already walk?)
  • 这么 简单 的 试题 不 会,何况 那么 难 的 (You couldn't answer a question that easy, and you're kidding yourself you could answer one that hard?)

In the above examples: as 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.

  • 一万块钱 有,何况 一千 (I'm earning 10000 a month, and you're saying I couldn't even earn 1000?)
  • 小孩儿 会,何况 走路 (The child can even recite poetry, how could he not be able to speak?)
  • 那么 难 的 试题 会,何况 这么 容易 的 (You can answer questions that hard, how could something like this be hard for you?)

In the above sentences, as A is so easy, then B must be even easier.

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.

Structure 2

Subject + (都)+ A, 何况 + B!

Examples

  • 本地人 都 经常 会 迷路 的,何况 外地人!
  • 这个 地方 本来 就 不好找,更何况 你 也 是 第一 次 来!

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

HSK5