どころか

JLPT N3approx.Neutral
Meaning
  1. 1Far from X, the reality is unexpectedly the opposite.Ex. 1
  2. 2Let alone X, even a more basic Y was not possible.Ex. 2
Formation
Noun+どころか
Verb (plain form)+どころか
i-adj. (plain form)+どころか
na-adj. stem+どころか
na-adj. (ta-form)+どころか
Examples
彼かれは手伝てつだうどころか、余計よけいな仕事しごとを増ふやしてくれた。
Far from helping, he actually gave me extra work.
週末しゅうまつは勉強べんきょうどころか、本ほんを開ひらく時間じかんすらなかった。
Over the weekend, I didn't even have time to open a book, let alone study.
Usage

Used in speech and writing to correct an expectation, often with a surprising or frustrating result. In the “let alone” use, the following clause shows that even something more basic was out of reach.

Watch out

Do not use どころか for a neutral “not only X but also Y”; it signals a surprising contrast or a lower threshold.

Note that the “let alone” use often has も, さえ or すら and a negative expression after どころか.

Do not put な between a な形容詞語幹 and どころか.

Easily confused with
  • はおろかN1「はおろか」 covers only the 'let alone A, not even B' meaning, usually with a negative second clause and a stiff, formal tone, and verbs need 「の」 before it (「歩くのはおろか」). In that meaning it is interchangeable with 「どころか」.
  • はもちろんN3「はもちろん」 first affirms A as a given, then adds B of the same kind; it attaches only to nouns (including noun + case particle) and has no 'on the contrary' meaning. It can replace 「どころか」 in its escalating sense but lacks the strong tone of rejecting the first part.
  • どころではないN2「どころではない」 can end a sentence on its own, meaning circumstances leave no room for something or that the first statement falls far short, whereas 「どころか」 cannot end a sentence and must be followed by a clause presenting an opposite or even greater fact. The two are not directly interchangeable.
  • に反してN2「に反して」 usually follows nouns such as 「予想」 or 「規則」 and is fairly formal, indicating a result contrary to expectations or wishes, or a breach of rules or norms. 「どころか」 instead introduces 'on the contrary, B,' 'not even B,' or 'even B,' so the two are generally not interchangeable.
  • わりにN3「わりに」 accepts the first part as true and only says the result doesn't match what it would lead you to expect, whereas 「どころか」 uses the first part as a setup for an opposite or more extreme fact. 「わりに」 needs 「の」 after nouns, and the two are not interchangeable.

はおろか shares the “let alone” use but is more formal; はもちろん adds what is expected rather than correcting an expectation. どころではない means “in no position to do X,” に反して means “contrary to X,” and わりに marks a mismatch relative to what X would suggest.

Grammar · JLPT grammar levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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