何况
Traditional: 何況
hé kuàng HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

大人都不懂,何况孩子?
Dàrén dōu bù dǒng, hékuàng háizi?
Even adults don't understand, much less children.
他没钱,何况没时间。
Tā méi qián, hékuàng méi shíjiān.
He has no money, let alone time.
我中文不好,何况英文。
Wǒ Zhōngwén bù hǎo, hékuàng Yīngwén.
My Chinese is not good, much less my English.
他都不去,何况我。
Tā dōu bù qù, hékuàng wǒ.
He won't go, much less me.
这都难,何况那个。
Zhè dōu nán, hékuàng nàgè.
This is hard, let alone that.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of it as 'how much more so?' Break it down: 何 (hé) can mean 'how' or 'what,' and 况 (kuàng) means 'situation' or 'condition.' So, it asks 'what about this other situation?' to make your point stronger.

📝 Usage Notes

It is used in both spoken and written Chinese, across formal and informal contexts. It is common in persuasive or explanatory sentences to logically extend a previous statement, showing that a lesser situation implies a greater one must also be true.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used in a two-part structure: the first part states a fact or concession, and the second part, introduced by 何况, presents a more compelling case. It frequently appears with 呢 (ne) at the end for a rhetorical tone (e.g., '...,何况...呢?').

🏯 Cultural Notes

It reflects a logical, persuasive style common in Chinese rhetoric, where building an argument through comparative reasoning is valued.

🔄 Similar Words

而且 (érqiě) means 'and also' for adding similar points, while 何况 is for adding a stronger, reinforcing point. 况且 (kuàngqiě) is very similar to 何况 and often interchangeable, but 何况 can feel slightly more emphatic and is more common in rhetorical questions.

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