……，何况……
let alone; all the more so; besides
Structure
A 都／尚且 … ， 何况 B （呢）
What it means
Let alone, all the more so: after a strong or surprising case, 何况 brings in a second case where the same holds even more. It can also mean “besides”.
How it is built
A + 都／尚且／连…都…，何况 + B (+ 呢): 这道题连老师都要想半天，何况学生呢？ (Even the teacher has to think about this one, let alone the students.)
When to use it
The 何况 clause often ends in 呢 or a question mark. As “besides”: 路这么远，何况又下着雨，别去了. 更不用说 (5-12) and 别说 (5-24) do the “let alone” job in plainer speech.
Watch out
Use it only when the two cases differ in degree: the first is the harder or more surprising one, usually marked with 都, 也, 连…都 or 尚且.
Examples
七年互不往来的两个国家都能坐到一张谈判桌前，何况其他分歧小得多的邻国呢？
If two countries that have not spoken for seven years can sit down at the same negotiating table, then surely neighbours with far smaller differences can too.
这道题连老师都要想半天，何况学生呢？
Even the teacher has to think about this one for ages, let alone the students.
大人走这段山路都觉得累，何况一个五岁的孩子。
Even adults find this mountain path tiring, never mind a five-year-old.
Learn this in Lesson 126 · HSK 7–9: 北京握手 (International news: the handshake in Beijing)
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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