～はおろか
Meaning
A phrase meaning 'let alone,' 'not to mention,' or 'far from.' It states that not only is a more expected thing true, but even a less expected thing is also true.
はおろか is used to present two items in a scalar relationship — the first (after は) is the more expected or basic item, and what follows is something even more surprising or extreme. It often pairs with particles like も, さえ, or すら in the second clause. The pattern can be used in both positive and negative contexts: negatively to say 'cannot even do X, let alone Y,' or positively to say 'not only X but even Y.' It is more emphatic than だけでなく and carries a stronger sense of surprise or emphasis. Learners sometimes confuse it with ばかりか, but はおろか is more dramatic and often implies a greater gap between the two items. It appears in both spoken and written Japanese, though it leans slightly formal.
Examples
- 彼は漢字はおろか、ひらがなさえまだ書けない。 He cannot even write hiragana yet, let alone kanji.
- 今月は旅行はおろか、外食する余裕すらない。 This month, I cannot even afford to eat out, let alone travel.
- その村には病院はおろか、薬局もなかった。 That village had no pharmacy, let alone a hospital.
Usage Guide
Context: written, spoken, emphatic
Tone: emphatic
Do Say
- 新入社員は敬語はおろか、基本的な挨拶すらできていなかった。
- あの地域では電気はおろか、安全な飲み水も確保できない状況だ。
- 彼はピアノはおろか、ギターもバイオリンも弾きこなす。
Don't Say
- 日本語はおろか、英語を勉強している。(Placing the less expected item before はおろか — the more basic or expected item should come first, with the more extreme item in the second clause) → 英語はおろか、日本語も勉強している。
- 漢字はおろかひらがなが書ける。(Omitting も/さえ/すら after the second item — はおろか requires an emphatic particle to mark the surprising extent) → 漢字はおろか、ひらがなさえ書ける。
Origin & History
おろか derives from the adjective 疎か (おろか), meaning 'neglectful' or 'to say nothing of.' Combined with the topic marker は, it evolved into a fixed expression meaning 'setting aside even X' to introduce something more extreme.
Cultural Context
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Related Phrases
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