ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-114.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

何况 (hékuàng) can mean "let alone" or "all the more." It can be used in the following structure:

==何况 within a rhetorical question==

=== Structure ===
<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 连 + A + 都 + (不 / 没) + Verb， 何况 + B + 呢？

</div>

呢 often appears at the end of this structure, to form a rhetorical question.

何况 can be used in two ways, the first of which where 何况 is used to emphasize that A is easier than B.

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 我 <em>连</em> 一万块钱<em>都</em> 有，<em>何况</em> 一千 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">I have 10000 yuan, and you're saying I don't even have 1000?</span> 
* 孩子 <em>连</em> 跑 <em>都</em> 会，<em>何况</em> 走路 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">The child can run, how could he not walk?</span>
* 你 <em>连</em> 那么 难 的 试题 <em>都</em>  会，<em>何况</em> 这么 容易 的 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">You can answer questions that hard, something like this should be easy, right?</span>    
</div>

In the above sentences, as A is so easy, then B must be even easier. However if one adds a 不 or 没 before the verb then the meaning is reversed: now A is so hard, B would almost be impossible.

<div class="liju">

* 我  <em>连</em> 一千 块钱 <em>都</em> 没有，<em>何况</em> 一万 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">I don't even have 1000 yuan, let alone 10000.</span>
* 孩子 <em>连</em> 走路 <em>都</em> 不 会，<em>何况</em> 跑 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">The baby can't even walk, let alone run.</span>
* 你 <em> 连</em> 这么 简单 的 试题 <em>都</em> 不 会，<em>何况</em> 那么 难 的 <em>呢</em>？ <span class="trans">You couldn't answer a question that easy, and you're kidding yourself you could answer one that hard?</span>

</div>

何况 doesn't necessarily have to be used with the 连⋯⋯都⋯⋯ structure, and can be used as a simple statement instead of a rhetorical question.

==何况 in a statement==

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + (都) + A， 何况 + B！
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 本地人 都 经常 会 迷路 的，<em>何况</em> 外地人！<span class="trans">Natives get lost all the time, so imagine the foreigners!</span>
* 这个 地方 本来 就 不好找，更<em>何况</em> 你 也 是 第一 次 来！<span class="trans">This place has always been hard to find, especially on your first time!</span>
</div>

何况 is often used with 尚且, a formal way of saying 还. 更 can be added to 何况 to add further emphasis.

==See also==
*[["Let alone" with "bie shuo"]]
*[["Let Alone" with "geng buyong shuo"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===
*  [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (pp. 278-9) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy] 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 136) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy] 

[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|连|B2|连⋯⋯都（也）⋯⋯，何况⋯⋯|<em>连</em> 小李 都 同意 了 ， <em>何况</em> 小张。|grammar point|ASG3ZS9G}}
{{Rel char|何况}}
{{Similar|"Let alone" with "bie shuo"}}
{{Similar|"Let Alone" with "geng buyong shuo"}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
{{Used for|Expressing determination}}
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Subprop|Let alone}}