‘Let alone’ in Chinese – hékuàng

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 何況况 hékuàng is a conjunction used to introduce a stronger reason or example after making a general statement. It’s similar to “let alone,” “not to mention,” or “much less” in English and is often used for emphasis.

Structure

General statement + (更 gèng) + 何況况 hékuàng + specific example

This expression is common in written and formal contexts. The addition of 更 gèng before 何況 hékuàng intensifies the emphasis.

我wǒ絕jué不bú道歉dàoqiàn， 何況hékuàng這zhè根本gēnběn不是búshì我wǒ的de錯cuò我wǒ绝jué不bú道歉dàoqiàn， 何况hékuàng这zhè根本gēnběn不是búshì我wǒ的de错cuò
I will never apologize. Besides, that is not my fault at all.

這zhè道dào菜cài太tài難nán做zuò， 更gèng何況hékuàng我們wǒmen也yě沒有méiyǒu材料cáiliào这zhè道dào菜cài太tài难nán做zuò， 更gèng何况hékuàng我们wǒmen也yě没有méiyǒu材料cáiliào
This dish is too difficult to make, not to mention that we do not have the ingredients.

這zhè鞋xié太tài貴guì， 何況hékuàng尺碼chǐmǎ也yě太tài小xiǎo这zhè鞋xié太tài贵guì， 何况hékuàng尺码chǐmǎ也yě太tài小xiǎo
These shoes are expensive. Besides, they’re too small.

那nà學校xuéxiào離lí我們wǒmen家jiā太tài遠yuǎn， 更gèng何況hékuàng我們wǒmen也yě付fù不起bùqǐ那nà學費xuéfèi那nà学校xuéxiào离lí我们wǒmen家jiā太tài远yuǎn， 更gèng何况hékuàng我们wǒmen也yě付fù不起bùqǐ那nà学费xuéfèi
The school is too far from our home, not to mention that we can’t afford the tuition.

他tā都dōu跑pǎo不動búdòng了le， 何況hékuàng還hái要yào爬山páshān？ 他tā都dōu跑pǎo不动búdòng了le， 何况hékuàng还hái要yào爬山páshān？
He can’t even run, let alone climb a mountain.

連连 + unexpected subject + 都 + verb/statement，何況况 + stronger example

The pattern of “連连 lián ··· 都 dōu ···” usually goes with 何況况 hékuàng to indicate if the unexpected subject is true, then the following example is even more so.

這zhè測驗cèyàn連lián國中生guózhōngshēng都dōu不會búhuì， 何況hékuàng是shì小學生xiǎoxuéshēng？ 这zhè测验cèyàn连lián国中生guózhōngshēng都dōu不会búhuì， 何况hékuàng是shì小学生xiǎoxuéshēng？
This test is too hard for junior high school students, let alone for elementary students.

你nǐ連lián自己zìjǐ買mǎi飯fàn都dōu有yǒu問題wèntí， 何況hékuàng出國chūguó旅行lǚxíng？ 你nǐ连lián自己zìjǐ买mǎi饭fàn都dōu有yǒu问题wèntí， 何况hékuàng出国chūguó旅行lǚxíng？
You can barely even buy your own food, much less travel by yourself.

他tā連lián超chāo貴guì的de房子fángzi都dōu買mǎi了le， 何況hékuàng是shì這個zhège小xiǎo包包bāobāo呢ne？ 他tā连lián超chāo贵guì的de房子fángzi都dōu买mǎi了le， 何况hékuàng是shì这个zhège小xiǎo包包bāobāo呢ne？
He bought a super expensive house; besides, this just a small bag.

連lián一yì杯bēi水shuǐ都dōu沒有méiyǒu， 何況hékuàng是shì飯fàn？ 连lián一yì杯bēi水shuǐ都dōu没有méiyǒu， 何况hékuàng是shì饭fàn？
There’s not even a glass of water, much less food.

S (+ 尚且) + 都 or 就 ⋯⋯ ，+ 何況况 + Statement

When 何況况 hékuàng is combined with 尚且 shàngqiě + 都 dōu / 就 jiù, it highlights how unlikely or impossible something is by comparing two scenarios. The comparison makes it clear that if the first situation is true, the second one is even more obvious. This adds a rhetorical effect to emphasize the point.

人rén都dōu學xué不會búhuì了le， 何況hékuàng是shì狗gǒu人rén都dōu学xué不会búhuì了le， 何况hékuàng是shì狗gǒu
People can’t even learn it, let alone dogs.

母語mǔyǔ者zhě尚且shàngqiě都dōu說shuō不好bùhǎo這zhè繞口令ràokǒulìng了le， 何況hékuàng是shì外國人wàiguórén母语mǔyǔ者zhě尚且shàngqiě都dōu说shuō不好bùhǎo这zhè绕口令ràokǒulìng了le， 何况hékuàng是shì外国人wàiguórén
Native speakers can’t even say this tongue twister well, let alone foreigners.

他tā平時píngshí就jiù吃chī不bù多duō， 何況hékuàng這zhè不是búshì他tā愛ài吃chī的de菜cài他tā平时píngshí就jiù吃chī不bù多duō， 何况hékuàng这zhè不是búshì他tā爱ài吃chī的de菜cài
He usually doesn’t eat much; besides, he doesn’t like this kind of food anyway.

動物dòngwù尚且shàngqiě都dōu知道zhīdào要yào護hù子zǐ， 何況hékuàng是shì你nǐ這個zhège做zuò媽媽māma的de动物dòngwù尚且shàngqiě都dōu知道zhīdào要yào护hù子zǐ， 何况hékuàng是shì你nǐ这个zhège做zuò妈妈māma的de
Even animals know to protect their young, let alone you as a mother.