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尚且 (shàng qiě) — (conjunction) even (used in the first clause to set up a stronger contrast, often paired with 何况 or 更不用说)

Definition

尚且 (shàngqiě) is a formal connector meaning 'even (so)' used in the first clause to set up a stronger contrast — typically followed by 何况. More literary and emphatic than 甚至.

conjunction
even (used in the first clause to set up a stronger contrast, often paired with 何况 or 更不用说)

Examples

  • 尚且，？
    Tā shàng qiě bú huì zuò, hé kuàng nǐ?
    Even he doesn't know how to do it, so how could you?
  • ，尚且，？
    Zhè zhǒng jiǎn dān de dào lǐ, hái zi shàng qiě míng bai, dà rén zěn me huì bù dǒng?
    Even a child understands such simple reasoning — how could an adult not get it?
  • 尚且，？
    Wǒ shàng qiě méi shí jiān, nǐ hái yào wǒ péi nǐ qù?
    I don't even have time, and you still want me to go with you?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

尚shàngstill
且qiěeven

尚且 pairs 尚 (still) and 且 (even) to introduce a stronger contrast.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
八八bā
Sound part声符shēngfú
向
向xiàng尚shàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

尚 pairs 八 with 向: 八 carries the meaning, and 向 gives the sound.

Open 尚 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 且 is thought to picture a stone altar, a sacrificial vessel seen from above, or an erect penis.

Open 且 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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