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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "let alone" with 何况 (hékuàng)

    HSK 5
    Comparison
    Emphasis

    Structure

    Clause 1, 何况 + Clause 2

    Explanation

    何况 (hékuàng) means "let alone" or "much less" and is used to strengthen an argument by introducing an even more extreme case. If the first situation is already true, the second situation introduced by 何况 is presented as even more obviously true.

    Examples

    • 这道题我都做不出来，何况他呢？

      zhè dào tí wǒ dōu zuò bù chūlái, hékuàng tā ne?

      Even I can't solve this problem, let alone him.

    • 大人走这条路都觉得累，何况小孩子。

      dàrén zǒu zhè tiáo lù dōu juéde lèi, hékuàng xiǎo háizi.

      Even adults find this road tiring, let alone children.

    • 连本地人都会迷路，何况我们这些游客。

      lián běndìrén dōu huì mílù, hékuàng wǒmen zhèxiē yóukè.

      Even locals get lost, let alone us tourists.