それどころか

• Reading: それどころか
• Romaji: sore dokoro ka
• Formation: Statement A。それどころか + Statement B (more extreme than A)

Meaning

A conjunction meaning 'far from it' or 'on the contrary,' used to indicate that the actual level or degree of a fact or situation is much greater than what was previously stated or expected.

それどころか strongly contradicts or escalates a previous statement by showing that reality far exceeds what was described. It can be used to refute an understatement ('He's not just good — he's amazing') or to show a situation is far worse or better than expected. The pattern is distinctive because it negates the adequacy of the first statement and replaces it with something more extreme. It carries a strong rhetorical punch and is used in both conversation and writing to create dramatic effect.

Examples

1. 少し疲れたかと思ったが、それどころか、もう動けないほどだった。 I thought I was a little tired, but far from it — I was so exhausted I couldn't even move.
2. 彼は日本語が少し話せるどころか、それどころか、ビジネスレベルだ。 Far from speaking just a little Japanese, he's actually at business level.
3. 赤字が減るどころか、それどころか、さらに増えてしまった。 Far from decreasing, the deficit actually grew even more.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 手伝ってくれるどころか、それどころか、全部一人でやってくれた。
• 反対されるかと思ったが、それどころか、大賛成してくれた。
• 少し遅れるかと思ったが、それどころか、二時間も待たされた。

Don't Say

• コーヒーを飲んだ。それどころか、紅茶も飲んだ。(Using それどころか for simple addition — it requires a dramatic escalation, not a mere listing) → コーヒーを飲んだ。それに、紅茶も飲んだ。
• それどころか、いい天気ですね。(Using それどころか to start a new topic — it must contradict or escalate a preceding statement) → 今日はいい天気ですね。

Origin & History

Composed of それ (that), どころ (situation/level, from 所), and か (question/rhetorical marker). Literally 'is that even the situation?' — implying the reality is far beyond what was described.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal