Grammar › Concession & Contrast
どころか — “far from…, let alone…”
Flatly rejects a mild claim and replaces it with something much stronger in the opposite direction
Noun or plain form + どころか rejects an expected or modest claim and swaps in a much more extreme (usually opposite) reality — “far from X, it's actually Y” — often used to correct an assumption, e.g. 上手どころか、話せもしない (far from good at it, he can't even speak it).
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Noun/plain form + どころか | 忙しいどころか、暇で仕方ない — Far from busy, I'm bored out of my mind |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一週間どころか、一年かかった。 | いっしゅうかんどころか、いちねんかかった。 isshuukandokoroka、ichinenkakatta。 | Far from a week, it took a whole year. |
| お礼を言うどころか、文句を言われた。 | おれいをいうどころか、もんくをいわれた。 oreiwoiudokoroka、monkuwoiwareta。 | Far from thanking me, they complained. |
| 涼しいどころか、真夏のように暑い。 | すずしいどころか、まなつのようにあつい。 suzushiidokoroka、manatsunoyouniatsui。 | Far from cool, it's as hot as midsummer. |
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Watch out
どころか needs a clear extreme contrast on both sides — for a mild “actually, no” correction, simple では(は)ない is more natural.