Let aloneHSK 6
Expressing 'let alone' with 何况
The 连…都…, 何况…呢? structure is a rhetorical pattern that means 'if even A is true, then obviously B is even more so.' Place the more extreme or basic situation after 何况, often followed by 呢 to make the sentence a rhetorical question. For added emphasis, 更 or 又 can precede 何况.
Structure
… 连 + ... + 都 + Verb/Adj. ，(更/又) + 何况 + ... + 呢 ？
呢 forms a rhetorical question; 更/又 add emphasis.
Examples
- 这句话连孩子都懂，何况大人呢？Zhè jù huà lián háizi dōu dǒng, hékuàng dàrén ne ?Children can understand what this sentence means, let alone the adults.
- 他连那么难的题都会，何况一个这么简单的题呢？Tā lián nàme nán de tí dōu huì, hékuàng yī gè zhème jiǎndān de tí ne ?He can answer a question that hard, let alone answer one that easy.
- 我奶奶连高铁都没坐过，何况飞机呢？Wǒ nǎinai lián gāotiě dōu méi zuòguò, hékuàng fēijī ne ?My grandmother hasn't even taken the high-speed train, let alone the airplane.
- 宝宝连走都不会，更何况跑呢？Bǎobǎo lián zǒu dōu bù huì, gèng hékuàng pǎo ne ?The baby can't even walk, let alone run.
- 我连他叫什么都不知道，又何况他的电话号码呢？Wǒ lián tā jiào shénme dōu bù zhīdào, yòu hékuàng tā de diànhuà hàomǎ ne ?I don't even know what his name is, let alone his phone number.