〜はおろか — JLPT N2 Grammar

Pattern

〜はおろか (wa oroka)

Structure

Noun A + はおろか + Noun B + も/さえ/すら + [negative or extreme predicate]
Noun A + はおろか + Noun B + も/さえ + [positive extreme predicate] (positive direction less common)

The predicate typically applies to BOTH A and B, but the focus is that B (which should be easier or more basic) is also impossible or true.

Formality Level

Formal/written — literary and journalistic Japanese. In spoken Japanese, 〜どころか is used instead with the same meaning.

Meaning

"Let alone X, even Y." Creates an extreme contrast by presenting X (the more extreme/difficult case) and Y (the more basic/easier case), asserting that if even Y is impossible, X is obviously out of the question.

Two directions:

Negative direction (most common): "Can't even do Y (the easier one), let alone X (the harder one)."

英語はおろか、日本語さえ話せない (Can't speak Japanese, let alone English) → English is harder; can't even do the easier Japanese

Positive escalation: "Not only X (the expected one), but even Y (the more extreme one)."

国内はおろか、海外でも評価された (Not only domestically, but even abroad it was praised)

Examples

Japanese	Reading	Romaji	English
彼は日本語はおろか、英語も満足に話せない。	かれはにほんごはおろか、えいごもまんぞくにはなせない。	kare wa nihongo wa oroka, eigo mo manzoku ni hanasenai.	He cannot speak English properly, let alone Japanese.
今の状況では、利益はおろか、元本の回収さえ危うい。	いまのじょうきょうでは、りえきはおろか、がんぽんのかいしゅうさえあやうい。	ima no jōkyō de wa, rieki wa oroka, ganpon no kaishū sae ayaui.	In the current situation, even recovering the principal is uncertain, let alone profits.
睡眠はおろか、食事をとる時間さえない多忙な日々だった。	すいみんはおろか、しょくじをとるじかんさえないたぼうなひびだった。	suimin wa oroka, shokuji o toru jikan sae nai tabō na hibi datta.	The days were so busy that there was no time even to eat, let alone sleep.
基礎知識はおろか、問題の意味さえ理解できていない。	きそちしきはおろか、もんだいのいみさえりかいできていない。	kiso chishiki wa oroka, mondai no imi sae rikai dekite inai.	Cannot even understand the meaning of the questions, let alone the foundational knowledge.
電気はおろか、飲料水さえ確保できない地域がある。	でんきはおろか、いんりょうすいさえかくほできないちいきがある。	denki wa oroka, inryōsui sae kakuho dekinai chiiki ga aru.	There are regions where they cannot secure even drinking water, let alone electricity.

Critical Distinction from 〜のみならず and 〜ばかりか

Pattern	Structure	Key Feature
〜のみならず	A + のみならず + B (neutral)	Neutral scope expansion: "not only A but also B"
〜ばかりか	A + ばかりか + B も/まで	Surprising escalation: B is more extreme than expected
〜はおろか	A + はおろか + B さえ/すら	Scale contrast: if even B (easier) is impossible, A is obviously out of the question

The key test for おろか: Is there a clear scale or hierarchy where A and B are on the same scale but A is more extreme? If yes, おろか. If it's neutral addition, use のみならず.

Common Mistakes

❌ 環境はおろか、経済も重要だ → No scale contrast (both equally important topics). Use: 環境のみならず、経済も重要だ.
✓ 話せないはおろか → wrong conjugation. Noun + はおろか is correct; for verbs, use the plain form or nominalize.
✓ 会話はおろか、文字の読み方すら知らない (correct scale: cannot even read letters, let alone have a conversation)