Let alone / much less (何况/更何况)

Structure Premise (often with 连…都/尚且)，何况/更何况 + even clearer case

何况 (hékuàng) and its reinforced form 更何况 (gèng hékuàng) introduce an a-fortiori argument: if something holds in a hard case, it holds all the more in an easier one. 大人都搬不动，何况孩子 = "if even adults can't lift it, let alone a child". It typically follows a premise marked with 连…都 or 尚且, and 更何况 adds emphasis. Written and cultured-spoken register; it matches the argumentative "let alone / much less".

Examples

这zhè件jiàn事shì连lián专zhuān家jiā都dōu解jiě决jué不bù了liǎo，何hé况kuàng我wǒ们men。
If even the experts can't solve this, let alone us.
平píng日rì尚shàng且qiě如rú此cǐ繁fán忙máng，更gèng何hé况kuàng年nián终zhōng。
If even ordinary days are this hectic, all the more so at year's end.
健jiàn康kāng的de人rén都dōu吃chī不bù消xiāo，何hé况kuàng病bìng人rén？
If even a healthy person can't take it, let alone someone who's ill.

Levels are indicative: they follow the standard Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning) progression, not an official HSK 3.0 mapping. We never assign levels by eye.

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