别说……，连……也/都……
let alone A; not even B
Structure
别说 A，连 B 也／都 … · 连 B 都 …，别说 A 了
What it means
Let alone A; not even B. B, after 连, is the extreme case; A, after 别说, then follows all the more.
How it is built
别说 + A，连 + B + 也／都…, or flipped: 连 + B + 都…，别说 + A + 了: 他连自己都养不活，别说养家了 (He can’t even support himself, let alone a family).
When to use it
Conversational; formal writing uses 不要说 in the same slot, or 更不用说 A 了 second (5-12). In a negative sentence B is the most basic thing; in a positive one, the least likely (连孩子都知道).
Watch out
Don’t swap A and B: the extreme case goes after 连. When 别说 comes second, it usually ends with 了: 别说养家了.
Examples
那时候别说完整的头骨，连像样一点的骨头都很难找到。
In those days, never mind a complete skull, even a halfway decent bone was hard to find.
我刚来的时候，别说说中文，连听都听不懂。
When I first arrived I could not even understand Chinese, let alone speak it.
他连自己都养不活，别说养家了。
He cannot even support himself, let alone a family.
Learn this in Lesson 125 · HSK 7–9: 哈尔滨头骨之谜 (Interview: the Harbin skull)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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