は疎か

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JLPT N1

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は疎か

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haorosoka(Not)only , (Not) even

Yuzuo Chan

11.06.2025

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Meaning

Not to mention A, even B...; B, let alone A. In the usual negative construction, A is the obvious, more extreme case that goes without saying, and even B, a lesser or easier case, is also so (usually not achieved). In affirmative constructions, B may instead be the more extensive or extreme case.

Conjugation

(A)N/Vこと + はおろか + (B)N + も/さえ/すら/まで + Vない (negative): (A)N + はおろか + (B)N + でも/にも/までも + ... (with a particle)

Examples

Show translation

私わたしは料理りょうりが苦手にがてで、ケーキはおろか卵焼たまごやきも作つくれない。

腕うでを骨折こっせつしてしまって、箸はしはおろかフォークも使つかえない。

疲つかれていて、勉強べんきょうはおろか好すきな漫画まんがを読よむことさえできない。

この村むらは、電車でんしゃはおろかバスも通とおっていない。

祖父そふはスマホはおろか、携帯電話けいたいでんわも持もっていない。

あの歌手かしゅは国内こくないはおろか、海外かいがいでも有名ゆうめいだ。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.title

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: ひらがなはおろか漢字かんじも書かけない。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 漢字かんじはおろかひらがなも書かけない。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: In the usual negative construction, A (before はおろか) must be the harder or more extreme item, and B the easier one. Reversing them makes the sentence illogical.

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: 走はしるはおろか歩あるくこともできない。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 走はしることはおろか歩あるくこともできない。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: A must be a noun or a nominalized phrase (こと/の), not a bare verb.

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: 箸はしをおろかフォークも使つかえない。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 箸はしはおろかフォークも使つかえない。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: The pattern is fixed as Nはおろか, with は and not を. B also needs a particle such as も/さえ/すら/まで.

Key points

Used to stress an extreme situation. The second part usually takes も/さえ/すら/まで with a negative predicate, and the tone is often one of complaint or surprise. It is formal and mostly written, and is usually written in kana. Unlike どころか, which can mean “far from A, rather B” or “not only A but also B”, and はもちろん, which neutrally means “not to mention”, はおろか stresses the extremity of B. In the usual negative construction, A is the harder or more extreme case and B is the easier or less extreme one, yet B also fails. A positive version is possible (国内こくないはおろか海外かいがいでも有名ゆうめいだ), but it is less common; there B is the more extensive case.

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