Grammar › Emphasis & Exclusivity
はおろか — “let alone, much less”
Rejects a modest claim by pointing out that even a bigger, more obvious one also fails
Noun + はおろか names a modest case, then adds that an even more basic or obvious case also doesn't hold — “let alone X, not even Y” — usually to emphasize how bad or lacking a situation is. It's close to どころか but leans more clearly negative and formal.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Noun + はおろか | 貯金はおろか、生活費もない — Let alone savings, I don't even have living expenses |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 漢字はおろか、ひらがなも読めない。 | かんじはおろか、ひらがなもよめない。 kanjihaoroka、hiraganamoyomenai。 | Forget kanji — he can't even read hiragana. |
| 旅行はおろか、外出する余裕もない。 | りょこうはおろか、がいしゅつするよゆうもない。 ryokouhaoroka、gaishutsusuruyoyuumonai。 | Let alone traveling, I don't even have the spare time to go out. |
| お礼はおろか、返事もくれなかった。 | おれいはおろか、へんじもくれなかった。 oreihaoroka、henjimokurenakatta。 | Forget a thank-you — they didn't even reply. |
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Watch out
はおろか needs its second clause to be an even more basic, harder-to-fail case than the first — the two need a clear escalating relationship, or the emphasis falls flat.