~는/은커녕
It means something is so far away from happening that even a much easier thing didn't happen.
Explanation at your level:
You use this when you want to say 'not even this, let alone that'. For example, if you are very hungry, you might say 'I have no bread, let alone rice!'. It is a great way to show you are sad or surprised about something missing.
This phrase helps you compare two things that didn't happen. You use the first part for the easy thing, and the second part for the hard thing. It is very common in daily conversations when you are complaining about a bad day.
At this level, you can use it to add nuance to your sentences. It shows contrast between what you hoped for and the reality. It is a powerful tool for storytelling, especially when describing failures or missed opportunities in your life.
Use this to sound more natural and fluent. It is perfect for debates or expressing strong opinions. It highlights the absurdity of a situation by showing that even the minimum requirement was not met.
Advanced speakers use this to emphasize irony. It can be used in professional settings to point out that a project is far from completion, using the phrase to highlight that even basic milestones were missed. It adds a layer of rhetorical sophistication.
In literary or formal contexts, this phrase serves as a bridge to show the depth of a character's struggle. It is not just about missing a goal, but about the total collapse of expectation. It reflects a deep mastery of Korean emotional expression and syntactic precision.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Used for negative comparisons.
- Means 'let alone' or 'far from'.
- Attaches to nouns.
- Essential for expressing frustration.
Hey there! Have you ever tried to do something, but realized you couldn't even handle the easy part? That is exactly when you use ~는/은커녕. It is a super helpful Korean phrase that translates to 'far from' or 'let alone'.
Think of it as a way to highlight a gap between what you expected and what actually happened. You use it when you want to show that a primary, smaller goal wasn't met, making a larger goal absolutely impossible. It is a very expressive way to talk about disappointment or extreme situations.
The phrase ~는/은커녕 is a contraction of the older form ~는/은 고사하고. In historical Korean, 고사하다 meant to leave something aside or set it apart. Over time, the language evolved to compress these sounds into the punchy, modern version we use today.
It reflects a common pattern in Korean where complex verb phrases are shortened for faster, more natural speech. It is fascinating how this structure has remained a staple in the language for centuries, helping speakers emphasize their point with just a few syllables.
You use ~는/은커녕 when you are comparing two things, where the first is easier than the second. The structure is usually: [Noun/Verb] + ~는/은커녕 + [Something even harder/impossible].
It is used in both casual and formal settings. In casual talk, you might say, 'I didn't even get a text, let alone a call!' In formal writing, it might appear in reports to describe a failure of expectations. Just remember: it always carries a negative nuance.
While it is a grammatical phrase, it acts like an idiom because it carries a strong emotional weight.
- 밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨다 (Couldn't drink water, let alone eat).
- 칭찬은커녕 꾸중만 들었다 (Instead of praise, I only got scolded).
- 도움은커녕 방해만 된다 (Not only not helpful, but a hindrance).
- 휴가는커녕 야근만 했다 (No vacation, just overtime).
- 사과는커녕 변명만 한다 (No apology, just excuses).
Grammatically, you attach ~는커녕 to nouns ending in a vowel or consonant, and ~은커녕 to nouns ending in a consonant. It is often followed by a negative verb or a phrase indicating the opposite of what was expected.
Pronunciation-wise, focus on the 'keo-nyeong' part. The 'k' sound should be crisp, and the 'nyeong' has a nasal quality. It rhymes loosely with words like 'young' or 'strong' if you stretch the vowels, though the Korean rhythm is unique.
Fun Fact
It evolved from a phrase that meant 'even if we set aside X'.
Pronunciation Guide
Similar to 'nun-kuh-nyung'
Similar to 'nun-kuh-nyung'
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing 'nyeong'
- Dropping the 'k' sound
- Adding extra vowels
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Requires nuance
Requires emotional tone
Clear sound
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Topic Particles
는/은
Negative Verb
안/못
Contrastive Particles
은/는
Examples by Level
돈은커녕 시간도 없어요.
Money-let alone, time-also don't have.
Used with nouns.
밥은커녕 간식도 못 먹었어요.
선물은커녕 카드도 없어요.
비는커녕 해만 쨍쨍해요.
친구는커녕 혼자 있어요.
잠은커녕 공부만 해요.
옷은커녕 신발도 없어요.
책은커녕 펜도 없어요.
여행은커녕 집 밖에도 못 나갔어요.
칭찬은커녕 야단만 맞았어요.
도움은커녕 방해만 받았어요.
휴가는커녕 주말에도 일했어요.
사과는커녕 변명만 들었어요.
커피는커녕 물도 못 마셨어요.
운동은커녕 걷지도 못해요.
영화는커녕 TV도 못 봤어요.
성공은커녕 시작도 못 했습니다.
취업은커녕 면접도 못 봤어요.
이해는커녕 듣지도 않았어요.
감사는커녕 불평만 하네요.
연락은커녕 소식도 몰라요.
결혼은커녕 연애도 안 해요.
수익은커녕 손해만 봤어요.
해결은커녕 문제가 더 커졌어요.
제안은커녕 거절만 당했습니다.
대화는커녕 눈도 안 마주쳐요.
용서는커녕 화만 더 냈어요.
보상은커녕 사과도 없었습니다.
기대는커녕 포기하고 싶어요.
휴식은커녕 잠도 부족해요.
발전은커녕 후퇴하고 있습니다.
칭찬은커녕 비난만 받았습니다.
계획은커녕 구상조차 못 했습니다.
해명은커녕 도망치기 바빴어요.
협력은커녕 갈등만 심화되었습니다.
존중은커녕 무시를 당했습니다.
성장은커녕 정체되어 있습니다.
안정은커녕 혼란만 가중됩니다.
지지율은커녕 비판만 쏟아집니다.
대안은커녕 문제만 제기합니다.
개혁은커녕 현상 유지도 어렵습니다.
화해는커녕 증오만 깊어갑니다.
번영은커녕 생존이 위태롭습니다.
공정은커녕 불평등이 심화됩니다.
합의는커녕 대립만 격화됩니다.
치유는커녕 상처만 남았습니다.
혁신은커녕 퇴보하고 있습니다.
구원은커녕 절망뿐입니다.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"말할 것도 없다"
It goes without saying.
그의 실력은 말할 것도 없다.
neutral"설상가상"
To make matters worse.
설상가상으로 비까지 온다.
formal"엎친 데 덮친 격"
Misfortunes never come singly.
엎친 데 덮친 격으로 지갑까지 잃어버렸다.
neutral"죽을 맛이다"
To have a miserable time.
요즘 공부하느라 죽을 맛이다.
casual"산 넘어 산"
One problem after another.
이제 시작인데 산 넘어 산이다.
neutral"진퇴양난"
Dilemma.
진퇴양난에 빠졌다.
formalEasily Confused
Both compare things.
물론 is positive, 커녕 is negative.
공부는 물론 운동도 잘한다 vs 공부는커녕 숙제도 안 한다.
Similar meaning.
고사하고 is more formal.
밥은 고사하고 물도 못 마셨다.
Both add info.
도 is additive, 커녕 is contrastive.
밥도 먹었다 vs 밥은커녕 물도 못 먹었다.
Both limit.
만 is exclusive, 커녕 is comparative.
밥만 먹었다 vs 밥은커녕 물도 못 먹었다.
Sentence Patterns
Noun + 는/은커녕 + Noun + Negative Verb
돈은커녕 시간도 없어요.
Noun + 는/은커녕 + Verb (negative)
칭찬은커녕 꾸중만 들었어요.
Noun + 는/은커녕 + Noun + 도 + Negative Verb
휴가는커녕 주말도 못 쉬었어요.
Noun + 는/은커녕 + Noun + 조차 + Negative Verb
기대는커녕 희망조차 없었어요.
Noun + 는/은커녕 + Noun + 마저 + Negative Verb
성공은커녕 기본마저 못 했어요.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verwandt
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
It implies failure, so positive outcomes don't fit.
Must use topic particles.
말고 is for choosing between options.
The point is the lack of result.
Don't use it for small things.
Tips
The 'None-Can' Trick
Think 'None can do it' to remember the negative feeling.
When to use
Use when you want to highlight extreme disappointment.
Cultural Context
Koreans use it to express humility or frustration.
Grammar Shortcut
Always check if the final outcome is negative.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'nyeong' sound.
Don't be positive
Never use it for good news.
History
It comes from '고사하다'.
Sentence Building
Start with a noun + 는커녕 + negative verb.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of it as 'None-can-young' (none can do it, let alone the young).
Visual Association
A person trying to reach a high shelf and failing to even reach the low one.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write 3 sentences about your bad day using this.
Wortherkunft
Korean
Original meaning: To set aside
Kultureller Kontext
None, but can sound complaining.
Equates to 'let alone' or 'far from'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 승진은커녕
- 휴가는커녕
- 보너스는커녕
At school
- 칭찬은커녕
- 이해는커녕
- 성적은커녕
Daily life
- 밥은커녕
- 잠은커녕
- 돈은커녕
Relationships
- 사과는커녕
- 연락은커녕
- 데이트는커녕
Conversation Starters
"What is something you failed at today?"
"Have you ever had a day where everything went wrong?"
"Do you often use the phrase 'let alone'?"
"How do you express frustration?"
"Can you describe a busy day using this phrase?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you didn't even get the basics done.
Write about a goal you had that was far from reality.
How do you handle disappointment?
List three things you couldn't do today.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenNo, it is strictly for negative outcomes.
It is neutral, but can be used in formal writing.
말고 is for choices, 는커녕 is for comparisons of failure.
Attach to noun + 는/은커녕.
No, it is a grammatical particle phrase.
Usually with nouns, but can be used with noun forms of verbs.
Yes, very common in spoken Korean.
No, it is an invariable phrase.
Teste dich selbst
밥은___ 물도 못 마셨어요.
The phrase is 는커녕.
Which means 'let alone'?
That is the definition.
Is ~는커녕 used for positive outcomes?
It is for negative outcomes.
Word
Bedeutung
Matching nouns to meanings.
Correct order is Noun + Negative verb.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
When you fail at the easy task, use ~는/은커녕 to explain why the hard task is impossible.
- Used for negative comparisons.
- Means 'let alone' or 'far from'.
- Attaches to nouns.
- Essential for expressing frustration.
The 'None-Can' Trick
Think 'None can do it' to remember the negative feeling.
When to use
Use when you want to highlight extreme disappointment.
Cultural Context
Koreans use it to express humility or frustration.
Grammar Shortcut
Always check if the final outcome is negative.
Beispiel
밥은커녕 물 한 모금도 못 마셨다.
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A2To feel pain or sorrow.
감탄스럽다
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A2Admiration or marvel; a feeling of wonder.
감탄하다
A2To admire or to marvel; to express wonder.
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B2To be tender, fond, or wistful.
살갑다
B2To be warm, friendly, affectionate.
