はおろか
🃏 Flashcard
はおろか
wa oroka
Tap to reveal usage
let alone; needless to say ~
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
wa oroka
Post ID
51424
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
let alone; needless to say ~
📖 How to use it
This pattern means 'let alone' or 'needless to say', emphasizing that something is true of a basic or minimal item, so it is certainly true of a more extreme or obvious one.
Attaches to
Attach to a noun, or to the dictionary form of a verb or adjective followed by の: [noun] + はおろか, [plain form verb] + の + はおろか, [い-adjective] + の + はおろか, [な-adjective stem] + なの + はおろか.
はおろか is a formal, written pattern used to say 'not to mention' or 'let alone'. It presents a stronger statement after the phrase, and the clause before it is something that might be considered minimal or basic. For example, if you say '子供はおろか、大人もできない' it means 'Not to mention children, even adults can't do it.' The pattern often carries a tone of surprise or emphasis that even the basic case is true or not true, so of course the extreme case follows.
彼は漢字はおろか、ひらがなも読めない。
Kare wa kanji wa oroka, hiragana mo yomenai.
He can't read even hiragana, let alone kanji.
その店は味はおろか、サービスも最低だった。
Sono mise wa aji wa oroka, sābisu mo saitei datta.
Not to mention the food, the service was terrible too.
彼女は自分の名前はおろか、年齢さえも覚えていない。
Kanojo wa jibun no namae wa oroka, nenrei sae mo oboete inai.
She doesn't even remember her own age, let alone her name.
Not どころか
どころか can also mean 'far from' or 'let alone', but it can be used with verbs and adjectives directly, and it often contrasts with expectation, while はおろか is more formal and attaches to nouns or nominalized phrases, typically listing from lesser to greater.
Register
Formal and mostly used in writing or formal speech; it sounds stiff in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
はおろか
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat はおろか three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using はおろか. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern はおろか mean?
▼
Let alone; needless to say ~
What JLPT level is はおろか?
▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use はおろか in a sentence?
▼
Attach はおろか (wa oroka) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is はおろか formal or casual Japanese?
▼
はおろか is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember はおろか long-term?
▼
Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.