どころか | Grammar

Structure

[noun] + どころか [na-adj] + どころか [verb (plain)] + どころか [i-adj] + どころか

Description

どころか rejects one idea to bring in a stronger one: "far from X", "let alone X". It follows a noun or a な-adjective directly, and a verb or an い-adjective in the plain form.

、。

Far from being angry, he was laughing.

、。

Far from getting a raise, my salary actually went down.

、。

Far from being easy, it was so difficult that nobody could do it.

A な-adjective takes no な before どころか.

× 簡単などころか → 簡単どころか

Not even the easier thing

When the second half is negative, どころか means "never mind X – not even Y". Y is the easier thing, and it takes も or さえ. English "let alone" runs the other way and names the easier thing first, so learners swap the two.

、。

He can't even read hiragana, let alone kanji.

、。

I don't even have a bicycle, let alone a car.

× ひらがなどころか、漢字も読めない → 漢字どころか、ひらがなも読めない

Not just X but far more

The second half can also go further in the same direction. だけでなくwould simply add to the list; どころか says the first item was far too modest, and it carries surprise.

、。

He can speak not just English but French and German too.

、。

It's worth not just a million yen but over a hundred million.

Examples

、。

Far from being fun, it was so boring I got sleepy.

、。

Far from helping, she just kept getting in the way.

、。

Far from getting a raise, my salary actually went down.

、。

I don't have a car – I don't even have a bicycle.

、。

I can't even speak English well yet, let alone Japanese.

、。

Far from resting, I became busier than before.

、。

It's not just worth a million yen – it's worth over a hundred million.

、。

Far from opposing it, he immediately agreed.

、。

Far from losing weight, I actually gained three kilos.

、。

It's anything but a joke – he's completely serious.

、。

He's far from being good at cooking – he can't even boil water.

、。

Far from being quiet, it's so noisy every night that I can't sleep.

References

どころかBunpro