Definition
别说 (bié shuō) is a conjunction used in the pattern '连…都/也…，别说…' to mean 'let alone, not to mention' — it emphasizes that if the first clause is true, the second is even more so. 何况 (hé kuàng) shares this usage but is more versatile: it can also mean 'besides, what's more' to add an additional point. In the 'let alone' sense, 别说 is slightly more colloquial and emphatic.
conjunction
let alonenot to mentionto say nothing of
Examples
- ，别说。Tā lián zǒulù dōu kùnnan, bié shuō pǎobù le.He has trouble even walking, let alone running.
- ，别说。Wǒ lián Zhōngwén bàozhǐ dōu kàn bù dǒng, bié shuō kàn xiǎoshuō le.I can't even read a Chinese newspaper, let alone a novel.
- ，别说。Zhège xiàngmù lián zhuānjiā dōu jiějué bù liǎo, bié shuō wǒmen le.Even experts can't solve this project, let alone us.
Grammar
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