何况 / 更何况【hékuàng / gèng hékuàng】

何况 follows a statement about one case and introduces a second case where the same thing holds all the more: "let alone", "much less". The first clause often uses 连…都 for the case that should have been easy; 何况 then names the harder one, as a rhetorical question that needs no answer.

It also runs the other way: if something is true in the usual case, it's even more true in the special one.

更何况 is the same word with extra force.

Adding a reason

At the head of a clause after an argument, 何况 adds one more reason that clinches it: "besides", "what's more". 又 or 也 often follows.

何况 or 况且

况且 also means "besides", but it only adds a reason. It can't do "let alone".

• × 他连中文都说不好，况且英语 → 他连中文都说不好，何况英语