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何况 (hé kuàng) — (conjunction) let alone; to say nothing of (in the pattern 连…都/也…，何况…); (conjunction) besides; what's more (adding an additional point)

Definition

Connects a stronger claim to a weaker one ('let alone / to say nothing of'), typically after 连…都/也…; also adds a further point like 'besides'. Pairs with 别说 for the 'let alone' sense.

conjunction
let aloneto say nothing of (in the pattern 连…都/也…，何况…)besideswhat's more (adding an additional point)

Examples

  • ，何况？
    Lián dà rén dōu ná bú dòng, hé kuàng hái zi ne?
    Even adults can't carry it — let alone a child?
  • ，何况？
    Tā lián zì jǐ de míng zì dōu xiě bù hǎo, hé kuàng xiě wén zhāng?
    He can't even write his own name, let alone write an essay.
  • ，何况，。
    Jīn tiān yǐ jīng hěn lèi le, hé kuàng wài miàn hái zài xià yǔ, hái bù rú zài jiā xiū xi.
    I'm already very tired today — besides, it's still raining outside — might as well rest at home.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

何héhow
况kuàngmoreover

何 ('how') with 况 ('moreover') gives 'how much more'.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form of 何 drew a person carrying something on their shoulder. If the carried thing was a 戈, the 人 and 戈 parts together showed that picture.

Open 何 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 況; 况 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐriver
Sound part声符shēngfú
兄
兄xiōng況kuàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 況 pairs 氵 (river) with 兄 as the sound part; the simplified 况 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 况 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 5Cause, Effect & Logic

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.