尚且…，何况…
even A …, let alone B; if even A …, then all the more B
Structure
A 尚且 … ， 何况 B （呢）
What it means
“If even A …, then all the more B”: 尚且 marks the case where you would least expect the result; 何况 brings in B, where it holds even more.
How it is built
A + 尚且 + …，何况 + B（呢）？: 这道题老师尚且做不出来，何况我们？ (even the teacher couldn’t solve it, let alone us).
When to use it
Written. In speech: 连 A 都…，更别说 B 了 (lesson 1-19 had 何况 after 都 or 连…都). Add 连 to stress the subject: 连皇帝尚且怕鬼. Alone, 何况 can add a reason: “besides”.
Watch out
✗ 尚且老师做不出来 ✓ 老师尚且做不出来: 尚且 goes after the subject, before the verb. Keep B short; it does not repeat the verb.
Examples
连皇帝尚且怕鬼，何况普通老百姓呢？
If even an emperor feared ghosts, what about ordinary people?
这道题老师尚且做不出来，何况我们这些学生？
Even the teacher could not solve this problem, let alone us students.
年轻人爬这座山尚且要三个小时，何况七十岁的老人呢？
It takes even young people three hours to climb this mountain, so what about a seventy-year-old?
Learn this in Lesson 45 · HSK 5–6: 灶王爷与财神 (The household gods)
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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