どころか
When you use どころか, you're saying that something is completely different or the opposite of what was expected. It's often used to show a surprising or strong contrast. Think of it like saying, "Not only is it not X, it's actually Y!"
For example, if someone says, 「彼は日本語が上手どころか、全然話せない。」 (Kare wa Nihongo ga jōzu dokoroka, zenzen hanasenai.) it means, "Far from him being good at Japanese, he can't speak it at all." You can also use it to say "much less" or "let alone."
When you use どころか, you're saying that something is completely different or the opposite of what was expected. It's often used to correct a misunderstanding or to emphasize a strong contrast.
Think of it as saying "far from it" or "on the contrary." It implies that the reality is quite different from what was previously suggested.
When you use どころか, you're saying that something is completely different or the opposite of what was expected. It's often used to show a negative surprise or a strong contrast between two ideas. You'll typically see it after a noun, plain form verb, or adjective, and it really emphasizes how far from the truth the initial assumption was. It's like saying, "Not only is X not true, but the exact opposite or something even worse is happening."
When you use どころか, you're saying that something is completely different or the opposite of what was expected. It's often used to correct a misunderstanding or to emphasize a surprising outcome.
Think of it as saying, "It's not even X; in fact, it's Y." It creates a strong contrast and highlights that the reality is quite far from the initial assumption. This phrase is useful for adding emphasis and a sense of unexpectedness to your statements.
どころか en 30 secondes
- B1
- Strong contrast
- Far from it
§ What does どころか mean?
The Japanese conjunction どころか (dokoroka) is a really useful phrase for expressing a strong contrast or a situation that is the opposite of what you might expect. Think of it as meaning "far from it," "let alone," or "much less." It's used when something is not just different, but surprisingly or emphatically different from what was previously mentioned or implied.
- Definition
- Far from it, let alone, much less; expresses strong contrast.
Let's break down when and how people use it. Imagine someone expects one thing, but the reality is quite the opposite, and often worse or more extreme. That's where どころか shines. It emphasizes the gap between expectation and reality.
§ When to use どころか
You'll often hear どころか in situations where:
- Something is not happening, and in fact, the opposite is happening.
- A situation is not just slightly different, but surprisingly worse or better than expected.
- You want to strongly deny an assumption or a previous statement.
- You are providing a more extreme or surprising piece of information.
It connects two clauses, and the first clause usually sets up the expectation or the thing that is being contrasted. The second clause, after どころか, presents the reality that is far from that expectation.
§ Examples of どころか in action
Let's look at some examples to make this clearer. Pay attention to how the expected outcome is completely overturned by the actual situation.
彼は日本語が話せないどころか、ひらがなも読めない。
*Hint: He can't speak Japanese, let alone read hiragana. (The expectation might be that he at least knows hiragana, but he doesn't even know that much.)*
彼は忙しいと聞いたが、手伝ってくれたどころか、何もしてくれなかった。
*Hint: I heard he was busy, but far from helping, he didn't do anything at all. (The expectation was maybe some help despite being busy, but the reality was no help at all.)*
このテストは簡単だと思ったが、簡単どころか、今までで一番難しかった。
*Hint: I thought this test was easy, but far from easy, it was the most difficult one ever. (The expectation was an easy test, but the reality was the opposite extreme.)*
§ Understanding the nuance
The key with どころか is the strong sense of negation and contrast. It's not just a mild disagreement; it's a complete overturning of a previous idea or assumption. It can sometimes carry a nuance of surprise or even disappointment, depending on the context.
When you use どころか, you're essentially saying, "Not only is X not true, but the exact opposite or a much more extreme version of the opposite is true." This makes it a very impactful phrase for emphasizing contrast in Japanese conversation and writing.
§ Basic Usage of どころか
The Japanese conjunction どころか (dokoroka) is a versatile and common expression that indicates a strong contrast or a situation that is far from what was expected or implied. It can be translated as 'far from it,' 'let alone,' or 'much less.' Understanding its nuances will significantly improve your ability to express complex ideas in Japanese.
At its core, どころか challenges a preceding statement or assumption. It implies that not only is the first thing not true or not happening, but often, the opposite or an even more extreme situation is occurring.
- Structure
- Noun + どころか
Verb (dictionary form, ない form, た form) + どころか
Adjective (い-adjective, な-adjective stem) + どころか
Let's look at some examples to get a clearer picture.
彼は助けるどころか、邪魔になった。
He didn't help at all; in fact, he just got in the way. (Literally: Far from helping, he became a nuisance.)
日本語が話せるどころか、ひらがなも読めない。
Far from being able to speak Japanese, I can't even read hiragana.
§ Connecting to Nouns and Verbs
When connecting どころか to nouns, you usually attach it directly. When connecting to verbs, you can use various forms depending on the nuance you want to convey.
Connecting to Nouns
休みどころか、毎日残業だ。
Far from having a day off, I'm working overtime every day.
Connecting to Verbs
You can use the dictionary form (辞書形), the negative form (ない形), or the past tense form (た形) of verbs before どころか.
- Dictionary form: Emphasizes the general state or action.
- Negative form (ない形): Highlights the absence of an action or state.
- Past tense form (た形): Used when the initial situation was expected to have happened but did not.
勉強するどころか、ゲームばかりしている。
Far from studying, he's just playing games.
謝るどころか、さらに怒らせた。
Far from apologizing, I made him even angrier.
終わったどころか、まだ始まったばかりだ。
Far from being finished, it's just begun.
§ Connecting to Adjectives
For adjectives, you attach どころか to the い-adjective directly, and to the stem of な-adjectives.
い-adjectives
美味しいどころか、まずくて食べられなかった。
Far from delicious, it was so bad I couldn't eat it.
な-adjectives (stem)
簡単どころか、非常に複雑だった。
Far from simple, it was extremely complicated.
§ Expressing Negative or Unexpected Outcomes
One of the most common uses of どころか is to show that a situation is not just different from what was expected, but often worse or completely opposite.
給料が上がるどころか、減ってしまった。
Far from my salary going up, it decreased.
彼は手伝ってくれるどころか、私に仕事を増やした。
Far from him helping me, he increased my workload.
Mastering どころか will allow you to articulate nuanced contrasts and unexpected turns of events, making your Japanese sound much more natural and expressive.
§ DOKOROKA at work
When you're at work, you'll often hear どころか (dokoroka) in situations where things didn't go as planned, or when someone is expressing a strong negative contrast. It's a useful phrase for showing surprise or disappointment.
新しいシステムは効率化されるどころか、かえって複雑になりました。
- Hint
- The new system, far from being more efficient, has become more complicated.
Here, the speaker is emphasizing that the system did the opposite of becoming more efficient.
プレゼンの準備は終わるどころか、まだ資料すら集まっていません。
- Hint
- Far from finishing the presentation, I haven't even collected the materials yet.
This example shows a strong contrast between finishing the presentation and not even having the materials ready.
§ DOKOROKA at school
In a school setting, どころか is frequently used by students and teachers alike to express various situations, from academic performance to daily school life.
宿題は終わるどころか、まだ始めてもいません。
- Hint
- Far from finishing my homework, I haven't even started it yet.
This is a common complaint from students. It clearly shows the gap between the expectation (finishing homework) and the reality (not even starting).
テストで良い点が取れるどころか、赤点ギリギリでした。
- Hint
- Far from getting a good score on the test, I barely passed (got a red mark).
This shows a significant difference between hoping for a good score and barely passing.
§ DOKOROKA in the news
In news reports, どころか is used to highlight a stark contrast between a prediction or expectation and the actual outcome. It can be found in economic reports, social commentary, and more.
景気は回復するどころか、さらに悪化しています。
- Hint
- Far from the economy recovering, it has worsened further.
This sentence directly contradicts the idea of economic recovery, emphasizing a negative trend.
政府の政策は国民の支持を得るどころか、反発を招いています。
- Hint
- Far from gaining public support, the government's policies are inciting opposition.
Here, どころか highlights the opposite effect of the government's policies.
§ Quick review of DOKOROKA usage
To sum up, どころか is a versatile expression used to show a strong contrast, often indicating that something is far from what was expected or hoped for. Remember these key points:
- It connects two contrasting ideas.
- The second part of the sentence usually presents a more negative or unexpected reality.
- It's common in both casual and formal speech, depending on the context and surrounding grammar.
§ Understanding どころか
- DEFINITION
- Far from it, let alone, much less; expresses strong contrast.
どころか (dokoroka) is a useful conjunction in Japanese that allows you to express a strong contrast. It means "far from it," "let alone," or "much less." You use it when the actual situation is completely different or even the opposite of what might be expected, or when something is so unlikely that an even less likely thing is impossible.
It often implies that something is not just not the case, but the opposite is true, or that a lower expectation isn't met, let alone a higher one.
彼は手伝いをしてくれる、どころか偽僵を報告した。
- HINT
- He didn't help; far from it, he reported me for a false charge.
個人によって手伝いをしてくれるどころか、説得することもできなかった。
- HINT
- Far from helping me personally, I couldn't even convince them.
§ Alternatives to どころか
While どころか is excellent for strong contrasts, there are other phrases with similar but distinct nuances. Knowing when to use which can significantly improve your Japanese.
どころか 〜 ない (dokoroka ~ nai): This is a common pattern that emphasizes the negation. It means "far from ~ing, not ~" or "not only not ~, but even ~."
彼は買ってくれるどころか、見てもくれなかった。
- HINT
- Far from buying it for me, he didn't even look at it.
どころか、まして (dokoroka, mashite): This combination intensifies the meaning to "not only X, but even more so Y." It's used when you want to show that not only is the first thing not true, but an even stronger, related statement is also not true or is surprisingly true.
英語を話すことができるどころか、ましてフランス語なんても話せません。
- HINT
- Far from being able to speak English, I can't even speak French.
どころか vs. ところが (tokoroga): These two look very similar, but they are different! ところが (tokoroga) is a conjunction meaning "however," "nevertheless," or "on the contrary." It introduces a surprising or unexpected outcome, but not necessarily a strong negative contrast like どころか. Think of どころか as a much stronger "on the contrary" or "far from it."
§ When to use どころか
Use どころか when:
You want to strongly deny an expectation or assumption and state the opposite truth. For example, if someone expects you to be rich, and you are actually broke, you might use it.
You want to say that not only is a certain (often lesser) thing not true, but an even more extreme (or expected) thing is also not true, or the opposite is true.
You want to express a stark, often negative, contrast between an assumption and reality.
Remember, どころか carries a strong tone of disbelief or emphasis on the contrary nature of the situation. Choose it when you want to highlight that the reality is very different from what might be assumed or hoped for.
How Formal Is It?
"昇進どころか、降格になったと聞きました。 (I heard he was demoted, far from being promoted.)"
"雨は止むどころか、ますますひどくなりました。(Far from stopping, the rain got even worse.)"
"勉強するどころか、一日中ゲームしてたよ。(Far from studying, I was playing games all day.)"
"おもちゃを片付けるどころか、もっと散らかしたね。(Far from tidying up your toys, you made more mess, didn't you?)"
"金持ちどころか、今月は家賃も払えない。(Rich? Far from it, I can't even pay rent this month.)"
Le savais-tu ?
This conjunction often creates a sense of surprise or strong refutation.
Guide de prononciation
- dookoraka
Niveau de difficulté
Relatively straightforward as it's a common phrase, but understanding the nuance in context can be tricky.
Using it correctly requires good grasp of sentence structure and the contrasting idea.
Common in conversation, but using it naturally requires practice with its various implications.
Distinguishing the exact nuance in fast-paced conversation might require attentiveness.
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Prérequis
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
どころか often emphasizes that something is surprisingly different or worse than expected. It connects two clauses, showing a strong contrast.
彼は日本語が話せるどころか、漢字も読めない。 (He can't even read kanji, let alone speak Japanese.)
It can be used with nouns, verbs (plain form), and adjectives (い-adjectives in plain form, な-adjectives with な).
美味しいどころか、まずくて食べられない。 (Far from being delicious, it's so bad I can't eat it.)
When used after a negative statement, it often implies 'not only is X not true, but Y (the opposite or something even worse) is true.'
休めなかったどころか、残業までした。 (Far from being able to rest, I even worked overtime.)
Sometimes, どころか can be followed by an even more surprising or extreme statement.
彼女は英語が苦手などころか、全く話せない。 (Far from being just bad at English, she can't speak it at all.)
It can also be used to express that something is not even the basic expectation, let alone something more advanced.
宿題が終わるどころか、まだ始めてもいない。 (Far from finishing my homework, I haven't even started it yet.)
Exemples par niveau
日本語は楽しいどころか、難しいです。
Japanese is difficult, far from being fun.
今日は涼しいどころか、暑いです。
Today is hot, let alone cool.
彼は速いどころか、とても遅い。
He is very slow, much less fast.
料理は美味しいどころか、食べられません。
The food is inedible, far from being delicious.
宿題は簡単どころか、複雑です。
Homework is complex, let alone easy.
彼女は親切どころか、冷たいです。
She is cold, far from being kind.
映画は面白いどころか、退屈でした。
The movie was boring, let alone interesting.
彼は有名どころか、誰も知りません。
No one knows him, much less famous.
日本語は楽しいどころか、難しすぎます。
Japanese is far from fun, it's too difficult.
彼は英語が話せるどころか、自己紹介もできません。
He can't even introduce himself, let alone speak English.
今日の会議は終わるどころか、まだ何も決まっていません。
Far from ending, nothing has been decided in today's meeting yet.
彼女は料理ができるどころか、お湯も沸かせません。
She can't even boil water, let alone cook.
宿題が終わるどころか、まだ始めていません。
Far from finishing my homework, I haven't even started it yet.
彼は優しいどころか、とても厳しい人です。
He is far from kind; he is a very strict person.
この本は簡単どころか、とても難しいです。
This book is far from easy; it's very difficult.
給料が上がるどころか、減ってしまいました。
Far from my salary increasing, it has decreased.
日本語どころか、英語もあまり話せません。
Far from Japanese, I can't even speak English much.
Here, 'どころか' emphasizes the contrast, showing that the speaker can't even do the 'easier' thing (English) let alone the 'harder' thing (Japanese).
彼は試験に合格するどころか、出席もあまりしていなかった。
Far from passing the exam, he wasn't even attending much.
'どころか' highlights the big difference between expectations (passing the exam) and reality (not even attending).
彼女は料理どころか、お湯も沸かせない。
Let alone cooking, she can't even boil water.
This example uses 'どころか' to show that something very basic (boiling water) is beyond her, let alone something more complex (cooking).
プレゼントをもらうどころか、お礼の言葉もなかった。
Far from receiving a present, there wasn't even a word of thanks.
'どころか' here contrasts two negative outcomes, emphasizing the lack of even a small gesture.
休むどころか、さらに忙しくなりました。
Far from resting, I got even busier.
This sentence uses 'どころか' to show an outcome that is the opposite of what was expected or desired.
彼が手伝ってくれるどころか、邪魔ばかりする。
Far from him helping, he only gets in the way.
'どころか' is used here to express disappointment when someone does the opposite of what was hoped for.
お金が増えるどころか、減ってしまった。
Far from my money increasing, it decreased.
This shows 'どころか' indicating a result that is the inverse of the expectation.
新しい車を買うどころか、自転車すら買えない。
Let alone buying a new car, I can't even buy a bicycle.
Similar to the first example, 'どころか' emphasizes the inability to achieve something simple (bicycle) let alone something more grand (new car).
日本語どころか、英語もあまり話せません。
I can hardly speak English, let alone Japanese.
AどころかB: Not even A, much less B (implies B is even harder than A).
彼はお金持ちどころか、いつもお金に困っています。
Far from being rich, he's always struggling with money.
Verb/I-adj/Na-adj/Noun + どころか: Far from ~ / Let alone ~
昨日どころか、一昨日も寝ていません。
I haven't slept the day before yesterday, let alone yesterday.
AどころかB: Not even A, much less B (implies B happened before A).
簡単どころか、この問題はとても難しいです。
Far from being easy, this problem is very difficult.
簡単(な) + どころか: Far from easy
手伝ってくれるどころか、邪魔ばかりする。
Far from helping, he just gets in the way.
Verb + どころか: Far from doing ~
疲れていないどころか、まだ元気いっぱいです。
Far from being tired, I'm still full of energy.
Verb/I-adj/Na-adj negative form + どころか: Far from not being ~ / Far from ~ing
彼の日本語は上手どころか、まだひらがなも読めません。
Far from his Japanese being good, he can't even read hiragana yet.
Noun + どころか: Far from Noun
美味しいどころか、全く味がしませんでした。
Far from being delicious, it had no taste at all.
I-adj + どころか: Far from (I-adj)
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
彼は手伝うどころか、邪魔ばかりした。
He far from helping, only got in the way.
この問題は簡単どころか、とても難しい。
This problem is far from easy, it's very difficult.
彼女は英語が話せるどころか、日本語も話せない。
She far from speaking English, can't even speak Japanese.
休むどころか、もっと忙しくなった。
Far from resting, I became even busier.
彼は優しいどころか、とても冷たい人だ。
He's far from kind, he's a very cold person.
お金持ちどころか、借金がある。
Far from being rich, I have debts.
静かどころか、うるさくて眠れない。
Far from quiet, it's so noisy I can't sleep.
彼は日本語が上手どころか、まだ挨拶しか知らない。
He's far from good at Japanese; he only knows greetings.
快適どころか、エアコンが壊れていて暑い。
Far from comfortable, the air conditioner is broken and it's hot.
勉強するどころか、一日中ゲームをしていた。
Far from studying, I was playing games all day.
Souvent confondu avec
Often confused due to similar appearance, but 'どころか' expresses strong contrast between two realities, while 'どころではない' means 'it's not the time/place/mood for something'.
Both express 'not only... but also', but 'ばかりか' generally has a more neutral or additive nuance, while 'どころか' implies a stronger, often negative or surprising, contrast or a worse situation than expected.
While both can introduce a rephrasing, 'というより' corrects or refines a statement, suggesting a more accurate description. 'どころか' presents a stark, often unexpected, contrast or a completely different reality.
Modèles grammaticaux
Expressions idiomatiques
"そんなことはおろか"
Let alone that kind of thing; far from it
彼は宿題をするどころか、学校にも行かない。
neutral"～どころではない"
It's not the time/situation for ~; far from being able to ~
今は遊んでいるどころではない。試験勉強をしないと。
neutral"～どころか～さえ"
Not only ~ but even ~
彼は英語どころか日本語さえ話せない。
neutral"～どころか、反対に～"
Far from ~, on the contrary ~
雨が降るどころか、反対に晴れてきた。
neutral"～どころか、むしろ～"
Far from ~, rather ~
彼は怒るどころか、むしろ喜んでいた。
neutral"～どころではない話"
It's not a matter of ~; it's a completely different story
これは簡単な話どころではない、もっと複雑な問題だ。
neutral"～どころでなく"
So much so that it's not even ~; beyond ~
疲れていて、食事どころでなく寝てしまった。
neutral"～どころか、全く違う"
Far from ~, it's completely different
彼の話は本当どころか、全くの嘘だった。
neutral"～どころか、むしろ～とさえ言える"
Far from ~, one could even say ~
彼は助けてくれるどころか、むしろ邪魔をするだけだったとさえ言える。
neutral"～どころか、かえって～"
Far from ~, on the contrary ~ (with a negative nuance)
薬を飲んだどころか、かえって体調が悪くなった。
neutralFacile à confondre
Many learners confuse it with similar-sounding expressions or struggle to grasp its strong contrasting nuance. It's often mistaken for simpler negative constructions.
It indicates a situation is far from what was expected or implied, often leading to an even more extreme or opposite outcome. It's stronger than a simple 'not'.
彼は手伝ってくれるどころか、邪魔ばかりした。 (Kare wa tetsudatte kureru dokoroka, jama bakari shita.) He, far from helping, only got in the way. (Hint: 'Far from helping, he only interfered.')
The inclusion of 'ではない' (negative copula) can lead learners to think it's just a straightforward negative. However, it carries a sense of 'no time/mood for it'.
This phrase means 'it's not the time/place/mood for X', implying that a more pressing or serious situation exists. It's about inappropriateness or impossibility due to circumstances.
仕事が忙しくて、休むどころではない。 (Shigoto ga isogashikute, yasumu dokoro dewa nai.) I'm so busy with work, it's no time for rest. (Hint: 'Too busy to rest.')
When combined with 'も' (also/even), the meaning shifts, adding another layer of contrast or unexpectedness that can be tricky for learners.
This pattern emphasizes that not only is the first thing not true, but even a lesser or more expected thing isn't true either. It strengthens the negative implication.
彼は日本語を話すどころか、ひらがなも読めない。 (Kare wa Nihongo o hanasu dokoroka, hiragana mo yomenai.) He, far from speaking Japanese, can't even read hiragana. (Hint: 'Not only can't he speak Japanese, he can't even read hiragana.')
The 'でなく' (negative form of 'de') can be confusing, making learners think it's simply a negative conjunction without the strong contrasting nuance.
Similar to 'どころではない', but 'どころでなく' often implies that the situation is so extreme that the mentioned action/state is completely out of the question or insignificant.
彼が来るどころでなく、連絡すら来なかった。 (Kare ga kuru dokoro de naku, renraku sura konakatta.) Far from him coming, not even a message arrived. (Hint: 'Not only did he not come, he didn't even contact.')
Learners sometimes use 'というより' interchangeably with 'どころか' when trying to express a correction or a stronger statement, but their nuances differ.
While 'というより' (rather than, or perhaps more accurately) corrects or refines a previous statement, 'どころか' presents a strong, often surprising, contrast or a more extreme reality.
彼は優しいというより、ただの臆病だ。 (Kare wa yasashii to iu yori, tada no okubyō da.) He's not kind, rather, he's just timid. (Hint: 'More timid than kind.')
Structures de phrases
[Noun] どころか [Negative phrase]
彼は手伝うどころか、邪魔ばかりする。 (Kare wa tetsudau dokoroka, jama bakari suru.) Hint: He doesn't help; far from it, he just gets in the way.
[Verb-dictionary form] どころか [Negative phrase]
休むどころか、さらに忙しくなった。 (Yasumu dokoroka, sara ni isogashiku natta.) Hint: Far from resting, I became even busier.
[Adjective-i] どころか [Negative phrase]
美味しいどころか、まずくて食べられなかった。 (Oishii dokoroka, mazukute taberarenakatta.) Hint: Far from delicious, it was so bad I couldn't eat it.
[Adjective-na] な どころか [Negative phrase]
簡単などころか、とても難しかった。 (Kantan na dokoroka, totemo muzukashikatta.) Hint: Far from easy, it was very difficult.
[Sentence A] どころか [Sentence B]
新しい車を買うどころか、今の車のローンも払えない。 (Atarashii kuruma o kau dokoroka, ima no kuruma no roon mo haraenai.) Hint: Let alone buying a new car, I can't even pay the loan for my current car.
[Phrase A] は どころか [Phrase B]
彼女は感謝するどころか、文句ばかり言った。 (Kanojo wa kansha suru dokoroka, monku bakari itta.) Hint: Far from being grateful, she just complained.
[Noun] すら/さえ どころか [More extreme negative phrase]
名前を覚えるどころか、顔すら覚えていない。 (Namae o oboeru dokoroka, kao sura oboete inai.) Hint: Let alone remembering the name, I don't even remember the face.
Famille de mots
Noms
Astuces
Basic Meaning of DOKOROKA
Understand that 「どころか」 (dokoroka) primarily means 'far from it,' 'let alone,' or 'much less.' It introduces a statement that is contrary to an expectation or a previous statement. Think of it as saying, 'Not only is X not true, but Y is actually the case,' where Y is an even more extreme or different situation than X.
Connecting to Nouns and Na-Adjectives
When connecting 「どころか」 to a noun or a na-adjective, you need to add 「だ」 (da) before it, which then becomes 「どころか」. For example, 「雨だどころか」 (ame da dokoroka) meaning 'far from being rain.' Or 「簡単だどころか」 (kantan da dokoroka) meaning 'far from being simple.'
Connecting to I-Adjectives and Verbs
For i-adjectives and verbs, you attach 「どころか」 directly to their plain form. For example, 「忙しいどころか」 (isogashii dokoroka) meaning 'far from being busy,' or 「できるどころか」 (dekiru dokoroka) meaning 'far from being able to do it.'
Emphasizing Contrast
「どころか」 is used to emphasize a strong contrast. It's often used when the reality is much worse, better, or simply very different from what was implied or expected. It expresses surprise or disbelief at the actual situation.
Common Usage: AどころかB
A very common pattern is 'A どころか B', meaning 'far from A, it's B.' Here, B is usually a more extreme or different situation than A. For instance, 「彼は日本語が話せるどころか、英語も話せない」 (Kare wa Nihongo ga hanaseru dokoroka, Eigo mo hanasenai) - 'Far from being able to speak Japanese, he can't even speak English.'
Distinguishing from Other Conjunctions
While other conjunctions like 「しかし」 (shikashi - 'however') or 「けれども」 (keredomo - 'but') also show contrast, 「どころか」 implies a greater degree of contradiction or a more surprising turn of events. It's not just a simple 'but,' it's more like 'on the contrary' or 'not even that, but something else entirely.'
Examples with Nouns
「給料が上がるどころか、下がってしまった。」 (Kyūryō ga agaru dokoroka, sagatte shimatta.) - 'Far from my salary going up, it actually went down.' Here, 「給料が上がる」 (kyūryō ga agaru) is a noun phrase followed by the plain form of the verb.
Examples with Na-Adjectives
「この仕事は簡単だどころか、とても難しいです。」 (Kono shigoto wa kantan da dokoroka, totemo muzukashii desu.) - 'Far from this job being easy, it's very difficult.' Notice the 「だ」 (da) before 「どころか」 because 「簡単」 (kantan) is a na-adjective.
Examples with I-Adjectives
「彼は親切どころか、冷たい人だ。」 (Kare wa shinsetsu dokoroka, tsumetai hito da.) - 'Far from him being kind, he's a cold person.' 「親切」 (shinsetsu) is an i-adjective, so it attaches directly.
Examples with Verbs
「彼は宿題を終えるどころか、始めてもいなかった。」 (Kare wa shukudai o oeru dokoroka, hajimete mo inakatta.) - 'Far from him finishing his homework, he hadn't even started it.' Here, 「終える」 (oerū) is a verb in its plain form.
Origine du mot
From '所 (tokoro)' meaning 'place' or 'occasion' and 'か (ka)' a particle indicating a question or doubt.
Sens originel : Originally implied 'is it even a situation where X?' leading to the contrasting meaning.
JaponicContexte culturel
When a Japanese speaker uses どころか, they are often emphasizing that the reality is completely different or even opposite to what might be expected or suggested. It's a useful phrase for expressing strong disagreement or to highlight a significant discrepancy, making conversations more impactful and direct. This expression is quite common in daily conversation, adding nuance to how opinions and facts are presented.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
When denying a previous statement or expectation, and presenting a contrasting, often worse, reality.
- AどころかB (Not only A, but even B - often worse)
- ～するどころか～ない (Far from doing ~, I didn't even ~)
- ～できるどころか～ない (Far from being able to do ~, I can't even ~)
To emphasize that something is far from being true, often implying an opposite or much more extreme situation.
- 優しいどころか怖い (Far from being kind, they're scary)
- 簡単どころか難しい (Far from being easy, it's difficult)
- 好きどころか嫌い (Far from liking it, I dislike it)
When something is not just different, but surprisingly or dramatically different from what was expected.
- 忙しいどころか暇だ (Far from being busy, I'm free)
- 美味しいどころかまずい (Far from being delicious, it's awful)
- 合格するどころか不合格だった (Far from passing, I failed)
To express that one thing is not even possible or true, let alone a more advanced or significant thing.
- 日本語を話すどころか挨拶もできない (Far from speaking Japanese, I can't even greet people)
- 走るどころか歩くのも辛い (Far from running, even walking is tough)
- 給料が上がるどころか下がった (Far from my salary going up, it went down)
When correcting a misunderstanding or an overly positive assumption with a harsher truth.
- 元気などころか病気だ (Far from being well, I'm sick)
- 安いどころか高い (Far from being cheap, it's expensive)
- 友達どころか知り合いですらない (Far from being friends, we're not even acquaintances)
Amorces de conversation
"昨日の試験どうだった？簡単だった？ (How was yesterday's exam? Was it easy?)"
"新しい仕事、もう慣れた？楽しい？ (New job, have you gotten used to it already? Is it fun?)"
"週末の旅行、天気良かった？ (How was the weather for your weekend trip?)"
"日本語の勉強、最近進んでる？ (How's your Japanese study progressing lately?)"
"あのレストラン、有名だけど本当に美味しいの？ (That restaurant is famous, but is it really delicious?)"
Sujets d'écriture
最近、何か期待していたことと全然違ったことはありましたか？「どころか」を使って説明してみましょう。(Has anything recently turned out completely different from what you expected? Try explaining using "どころか".)
日本語の学習で、「〜できるどころか〜できない」と感じた経験について書いてみましょう。(Write about an experience in your Japanese studies where you felt "Far from being able to do ~, I can't even ~".)
誰かとの会話で、相手の言ったことに対して「AどころかB」と心の中で思った瞬間を思い出して書いてみましょう。(Recall and write about a moment in a conversation where you inwardly thought "Far from A, it's B" in response to what someone said.)
自分の現状について、「〜するどころか〜ない」という状況をいくつか具体的に挙げてみましょう。(List a few specific situations about your current state where you feel "Far from doing ~, I don't even ~".)
もし過去に戻って、期待していたことと現実が違った瞬間に「どころか」を使って表現するとしたら、どう言いますか？(If you could go back in time and use "どころか" to express a moment where expectation and reality differed, what would you say?)
Teste-toi 108 questions
Choose the correct particle: 私は日本語が ___ できません。
The sentence means 'Far from speaking Japanese, I can't even say hello.' 'どころか' emphasizes the strong contrast.
Which word best completes the sentence: 彼は日本語が話す ___、ひらがなも読めません。
The sentence means 'Far from speaking Japanese, he can't even read hiragana.' 'どころか' shows a strong negative contrast.
Select the most appropriate word: 彼女は漢字が書ける ___、自分の名前も書けません。
The sentence means 'Far from being able to write kanji, she can't even write her own name.' 'どころか' highlights the big difference.
The sentence '彼は日本語が話すどころか、ひらがなも読めません。' means 'He can speak Japanese, but he can't read hiragana.'
The sentence actually means 'Far from speaking Japanese, he can't even read hiragana.' It implies a stronger negative contrast.
You can use 'どころか' to express that something is far from happening.
'どころか' is used to show a strong contrast, often indicating that something is far from the stated expectation.
The sentence '私は泳ぐどころか、水に触ることもできません。' means 'I can swim, but I can't touch water.'
The sentence means 'Far from being able to swim, I can't even touch water.' It emphasizes a complete inability.
Greetings
Gratitude
Farewell
Read this aloud:
おはようございます
Focus: ohayou gozaimasu
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
すみません
Focus: sumimasen
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
はい、そうです
Focus: hai, sou desu
Tu as dit :
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This sentence means 'I am a student.' The typical Japanese sentence structure is Subject-Object-Verb, and here '私' is the subject, 'は' is a topic particle, and '学生です' means 'am a student.'
This sentence means 'This is a pen.' 'これ' means 'this,' 'は' is a topic particle, and 'ペンです' means 'is a pen.'
This sentence means 'What is that over there?' 'あれ' means 'that over there,' 'は' is a topic particle, '何' means 'what,' 'です' is a polite copula, and 'か' is a question particle.
日本語は楽しい。でも、漢字は___。
The speaker finds Japanese enjoyable but struggles with kanji, indicating a contrast. 「どころか」 often precedes something that is contrary or more difficult than expected. So, 'difficult' fits the contrast.
彼は日本語が___、英語も話せません。
The sentence suggests an inability to speak English, which implies an even greater inability to speak Japanese. 'Cannot do' (できません) creates the strong contrast needed for どころか.
私は料理が___、カップラーメンしか作れません。
The statement 'I can only make cup noodles' strongly suggests an inability to cook well. 'Cannot do' (できません) sets up the contrast.
彼はスポーツが___、走るのも苦手です。
If someone is bad at running, they are likely not good at sports in general. 'Not good at' (苦手です) establishes the appropriate contrast.
この部屋は___、エアコンもありません。
The lack of air conditioning suggests the room is hot. 'Hot' (暑いです) provides the contrast to a comfortable room.
宿題は___、まだ何もしていません。
The phrase 'I haven't done anything yet' implies an inability to finish the homework. 'Cannot do' (できません) fits the strong contrast.
The speaker is saying they can't speak English, let alone Japanese.
The person can't walk, let alone run.
The speaker doesn't remember a week ago, let alone yesterday.
Read this aloud:
宿題どころか、教科書も持っていません。
Focus: ど・こ・ろ・か
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
彼は忙しいどころか、毎日暇そうです。
Focus: い・そ・が・し・い・ど・こ・ろ・か
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
プレゼントどころか、誕生日も忘れていました。
Focus: プ・レ・ゼ・ン・ト・ど・こ・ろ・か
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'I don't eat fish.' It's a basic sentence structure in Japanese, with the topic particle 'は' (wa) indicating 'fish' as the topic.
This sentence means 'This is an interesting book.' The adjective '面白い' (omoshiroi) comes before the noun '本' (hon).
This sentence means 'It rained yesterday.' '昨日' (kinou) is yesterday, '雨が' (ame ga) is rain (subject), and '降りました' (furimashita) is the past tense of 'to fall' (for rain).
彼は手伝ってくれる___、邪魔ばかりする。
「どころか」は「〜どころか〜ない」の形で、「〜どころか」の後ろに来る内容を否定し、さらにその否定された内容よりも悪い状況が起こっていることを表します。この文では、「手伝ってくれるどころか（手伝うどころか）」邪魔ばかりしている、という対比を強調しています。
彼女は怒る___、笑っていた。
「怒るどころか」で、怒るという予想に反して笑っていた、という強い対比を示します。
簡単な仕事___、とても難しかった。
「簡単な仕事どころか」で、簡単な仕事だと思っていたのに、実際はとても難しかったという逆の状況を強調しています。
彼は日本語が話せる___、書くこともできる。
この文では「日本語が話せるどころか」とすることで、話せるだけでなく、さらに難しい書くこともできるという、期待を上回る状況を表しています。
試験に合格する___、欠点だった。
「合格するどころか」で、合格とはかけ離れて、実際は欠点だったという状況を強調しています。
彼はお金を返す___、さらに借りようとした。
「お金を返すどころか」で、返すはずが、逆にさらに借りようとしたという、期待に反する行動を強く示しています。
You planned to go camping this weekend, but the weather forecast now shows heavy rain. Write a sentence explaining your disappointment using 'どころか' to emphasize how impossible camping will be.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
週末にキャンプに行くどころか、大雨でそれも無理になりました。 (Far from going camping this weekend, it's impossible now due to heavy rain.)
You were hoping to finish your homework by tonight, but you're not even halfway done. Write a sentence using 'どころか' to express that finishing is out of the question.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
宿題を終えるどころか、まだ半分も終わっていません。 (Far from finishing my homework, I haven't even finished half of it yet.)
Your friend said they would help you move, but they haven't even replied to your messages. Write a sentence using 'どころか' to describe this situation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
友達は引っ越しを手伝ってくれるどころか、メッセージの返事すらありません。 (Far from helping me move, my friend hasn't even replied to my messages.)
田中さんは日本の小説を読めますか？ (Can Tanaka-san read Japanese novels?)
Read this passage:
A: 田中さんは日本語がとても上手だから、日本の小説が読めるでしょう？ B: 読むどころか、漢字が多すぎて新聞も読めませんよ。 (A: Tanaka-san is so good at Japanese, you can probably read Japanese novels, right? B: Far from reading, there are too many kanji, so I can't even read newspapers.)
田中さんは日本の小説を読めますか？ (Can Tanaka-san read Japanese novels?)
B's statement '読むどころか、漢字が多すぎて新聞も読めませんよ' indicates that far from reading novels, they can't even read newspapers due to too many kanji, implying novels are also impossible.
B's statement '読むどころか、漢字が多すぎて新聞も読めませんよ' indicates that far from reading novels, they can't even read newspapers due to too many kanji, implying novels are also impossible.
この人は週末に部屋を掃除できましたか？ (Could this person clean their room on the weekend?)
Read this passage:
週末に部屋を掃除するつもりでしたが、疲れすぎてベッドから出られませんでした。掃除どころか、ご飯を作ることもできませんでした。 (I intended to clean my room on the weekend, but I was too tired to get out of bed. Far from cleaning, I couldn't even make food.)
この人は週末に部屋を掃除できましたか？ (Could this person clean their room on the weekend?)
The passage states '掃除どころか、ご飯を作ることもできませんでした', meaning far from cleaning, they couldn't even make food, so cleaning was definitely not done.
The passage states '掃除どころか、ご飯を作ることもできませんでした', meaning far from cleaning, they couldn't even make food, so cleaning was definitely not done.
彼がした行動は次のうちどれですか？ (Which of the following actions did he take?)
Read this passage:
彼に助けを求めましたが、助けてくれるどころか、笑われました。とてもがっかりしました。 (I asked him for help, but far from helping me, he laughed at me. I was very disappointed.)
彼がした行動は次のうちどれですか？ (Which of the following actions did he take?)
The phrase '助けてくれるどころか、笑われました' explicitly states that far from helping, he laughed.
The phrase '助けてくれるどころか、笑われました' explicitly states that far from helping, he laughed.
This sentence means 'I was so hungry, far from it, I couldn't eat anything.' 'どころか' connects the initial state of hunger with the surprising result of not being able to eat.
This means 'Far from failing the exam, he passed with top marks.' 'どころか' highlights the strong contrast between the expectation of failing and the reality of passing with high marks.
This translates to 'Far from curing my cold, this medicine didn't make it better at all.' 'どころか' emphasizes that the medicine had the opposite effect of what was hoped for.
彼は日本語が話せる___、書くこともできる。
「どころか」は、期待や予想に反して、それどころではない状況や、さらに進んだ状況を表します。この文脈では、「日本語が話せるだけでなく、書くこともできる」という、予想を超える能力を示しています。
休日は家でゆっくりできると期待していたが、実際は宿題に追われて休む___だった。
「休むどころか」は、「休むことなどできなかった」という、期待に反する状況を表します。宿題に追われていたため、休むことすらできなかったという強い否定の意味合いです。
新しいプロジェクトは簡単だと聞いていたが、簡単な___、とても複雑で時間がかかる。
「簡単などころか」は、「簡単であるどころではない、むしろ反対に難しい」という、予想との大きな隔たりを強調しています。プロジェクトの難しさを際立たせています。
彼は約束の時間に間に合う___、30分も遅刻してきた。
「間に合うどころか」は、「間に合うはずがなく、むしろ大幅に遅れた」という、期待を大きく裏切る状況を表します。約束の時間を守れなかったことを強調しています。
この映画は感動すると聞いていたが、感動する___、退屈で途中で寝てしまった。
「感動するどころか」は、「感動するはずがなく、むしろ退屈だった」という、期待と真逆の感情を表現しています。映画に対する失望を強く示しています。
最近の株価は上昇する___、下がる一方だ。
「上昇するどころか」は、「上昇するはずがなく、むしろ下降している」という、予想とは反対の動きを強調しています。株価の低迷を示しています。
You planned to go camping this weekend, but the weather forecast suddenly changed to heavy rain. Write a sentence explaining how the rain ruined your plans, using 「どころか」.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
週末にキャンプに行くどころか、大雨で家にいなければならなくなりました。(Far from going camping this weekend, I have to stay home because of the heavy rain.)
Your friend said they finished a very difficult report. You know they barely started it. Write a sentence expressing your surprise and disagreement using 「どころか」.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
レポートが終わったどころか、まだ始めてもいないでしょう。(Far from finishing the report, you probably haven't even started it.)
You thought a new restaurant would be busy, but it was completely empty. Write a sentence describing this situation using 「どころか」.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
新しいレストランは混んでいるどころか、誰もいませんでした。(Far from being crowded, the new restaurant was empty.)
この文章から、彼の実際の性格について最も適切に読み取れることは何ですか？
Read this passage:
彼はいつも自信満々で、どんな困難にも立ち向かうと豪語していた。しかし、簡単な仕事どころか、新しいプロジェクトの初期段階でさえ、彼はすぐに諦めてしまった。彼の言葉とは裏腹に、実際には非常に打たれ弱いことが明らかになった。
この文章から、彼の実際の性格について最も適切に読み取れることは何ですか？
「簡単な仕事どころか、新しいプロジェクトの初期段階でさえ、彼はすぐに諦めてしまった」という記述から、彼は困難に弱いことがわかります。
「簡単な仕事どころか、新しいプロジェクトの初期段階でさえ、彼はすぐに諦めてしまった」という記述から、彼は困難に弱いことがわかります。
「合格どころか、平均点にもはるかに及ばなかった」という表現から、筆者が何を強調したいと考えていますか？
Read this passage:
彼女は徹夜で勉強したと言っていたが、試験の結果は散々だった。合格どころか、平均点にもはるかに及ばなかった。どれだけ努力したかよりも、効率的な学習方法が重要だと改めて認識させられた。
「合格どころか、平均点にもはるかに及ばなかった」という表現から、筆者が何を強調したいと考えていますか？
「どころか」が「合格」と「平均点にも及ばない」という強い対比を生み出し、彼女の試験結果が期待をはるかに下回るものであったことを強調しています。
「どころか」が「合格」と「平均点にも及ばない」という強い対比を生み出し、彼女の試験結果が期待をはるかに下回るものであったことを強調しています。
新しいデータが手に入ったことで、状況はどのように変化しましたか？
Read this passage:
私たちはその問題の解決策を探していたが、新しいデータが手に入ったことで、解決どころか、問題がさらに複雑になってしまった。予想外の事実に直面し、我々は途方に暮れている。
新しいデータが手に入ったことで、状況はどのように変化しましたか？
「解決どころか、問題がさらに複雑になってしまった」という表現から、問題がより難しくなったことがわかります。
「解決どころか、問題がさらに複雑になってしまった」という表現から、問題がより難しくなったことがわかります。
This sentence uses どころか to emphasize that not only is there no time to rest, but the speaker is also too busy.
Here, どころか highlights a strong contrast: not only can he not speak Japanese, but he can't even read or write it.
This sentence uses どころか to show that solving the difficult problem is impossible; even understanding it is out of reach.
彼は手伝ってくれる___、邪魔ばかりする。
「どころか」は「〜どころか〜ない」の形で使われ、「〜どころかB」で「Aと正反対にBだ」という意味を表します。ここでは「手伝ってくれる」と正反対に「邪魔ばかりする」と続くため、「どころか」が適切です。
約束の時間に間に合う___、彼はまだ家を出たばかりだった。
「どころか」は「〜どころか〜ない」の形で使われ、「〜どころかB」で「Aと正反対にBだ」という意味を表します。ここでは「間に合う」と正反対に「まだ家を出たばかり」と続くため、「どころか」が適切です。
彼は日本語が話せる___、読み書きもほとんどできない。
「どころか」は「〜どころか〜ない」の形で使われ、「〜どころかB」で「Aと正反対にBだ」という意味を表します。ここでは「日本語が話せる」と正反対に「読み書きもほとんどできない」と続くため、「どころか」が適切です。
この薬は効果がある___、副作用で体調が悪くなった。
「どころか」は「〜どころか〜ない」の形で使われ、「〜どころかB」で「Aと正反対にBだ」という意味を表します。ここでは「効果がある」と正反対に「副作用で体調が悪くなった」と続くため、「どころか」が適切です。
彼は優しい___、いつも怒ってばかりいる。
「どころか」は「〜どころか〜ない」の形で使われ、「〜どころかB」で「Aと正反対にBだ」という意味を表します。ここでは「優しい」と正反対に「いつも怒ってばかりいる」と続くため、「どころか」が適切です。
彼は料理ができる___、お湯を沸かすことさえできない。
「どころか」は「〜どころか〜ない」の形で使われ、「〜どころかB」で「Aと正反対にBだ」という意味を表します。ここでは「料理ができる」と正反対に「お湯を沸かすことさえできない」と続くため、「どころか」が適切です。
He can't even write or read, let alone speak Japanese.
Far from resting on the weekend, it got even busier.
The new project, far from being a success, ended in a huge failure.
Read this aloud:
彼は約束を守るどころか、連絡すらしてこなかった。
Focus: どころか (dokoroka)
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Read this aloud:
給料が上がるどころか、残業代もカットされた。
Focus: 上がるどころか (agarudokoroka)
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
この本は面白いどころか、退屈で最後まで読めなかった。
Focus: 面白いどころか (omoshiroidokoroka)
Tu as dit :
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彼は英語が話せる___、フランス語も話せる。
「どころか」は、前の内容を強く否定し、さらにその先の内容も否定する、あるいはより進んだ事実を述べる際に使われます。ここでは、「英語が話せるというより、さらにその上のフランス語も話せる」という、期待を上回る事実を強調しています。
風邪で学校を休んだが、熱が下がる___、さらに上がってしまった。
「どころか」は、予想や期待に反する状況を強調します。ここでは、「熱が下がるどころか、むしろ上がってしまった」という、悪い方向への変化を表しています。
彼女は優しい___、人の気持ちを全く理解しない。
「どころか」は、前の内容を強く否定し、それと対照的な事実を述べます。ここでは、「優しいどころか、人の気持ちを理解しない」という、相手の性格に対する否定的な見方を強調しています。
この映画は面白い___、退屈で途中で寝てしまった。
「どころか」は、期待や予想に反する結果を強調する際に用いられます。ここでは、「面白いという期待に反して、退屈だった」という強い否定を表しています。
彼は謝る___、さらに私を責め立てた。
「どころか」は、前の行動や状況を否定し、さらにその逆の行動や状況が起こったことを強調します。ここでは、「謝るどころか、逆により責め立てた」という、予想外の行動を強調しています。
給料が上がる___、残業が増えて手取りが減った。
「どころか」は、期待や予測とは全く異なる、あるいは逆の状況を強調します。ここでは、「給料が上がるという期待に反して、手取りが減った」という、悪い方向への変化を強調しています。
The speaker is talking about someone's language abilities.
The speaker is describing the condition of a computer.
The speaker is describing someone's reaction to a situation.
Read this aloud:
疲れてるどころか、まだ全然元気だよ。
Focus: tsukareteru dokoroka, mada zenzen genki da yo
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Read this aloud:
彼は約束を守るどころか、連絡すらしてこなかった。
Focus: kare wa yakusoku o mamoru dokoroka, renraku sura shite konakatta
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
忙しいどころか、最近は暇を持て余しているよ。
Focus: isogashii dokoroka, saikin wa hima o moteamashite iru yo
Tu as dit :
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Write a sentence using 'どころか' to express that something is far from being good, in fact, it's quite bad.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彼の計画は成功どころか、完全に失敗に終わった。（His plan, far from succeeding, ended in complete failure.)
Create a sentence using 'どころか' to show a strong contrast where the second part is even more extreme than the first negative idea.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彼女は手伝ってくれるどころか、邪魔ばかりする。(Far from helping, she only gets in the way.)
Formulate a sentence using 'どころか' to indicate that someone not only didn't achieve a basic expectation but did something entirely opposite or worse.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彼は宿題をするどころか、ゲームをして夜を過ごした。(Far from doing his homework, he spent the night playing games.)
Aさんは新しい仕事で何が起こったと期待していましたか？
Read this passage:
Aさんは、新しい仕事で昇進を期待していました。しかし、昇進どころか、給料まで減らされてしまいました。これは本当に残念な状況です。
Aさんは新しい仕事で何が起こったと期待していましたか？
パッセージには「昇進を期待していました」とあります。(The passage states 'he was expecting a promotion.')
パッセージには「昇進を期待していました」とあります。(The passage states 'he was expecting a promotion.')
この文脈で「合格どころか」は何を意味しますか？
Read this passage:
彼は試験に合格できると自信満々だった。しかし、合格どころか、最低点さえ取れなかった。
この文脈で「合格どころか」は何を意味しますか？
「どころか」は強い否定や予想外の悪い結果を表します。(Dokoroka expresses strong negation or an unexpectedly bad result.)
「どころか」は強い否定や予想外の悪い結果を表します。(Dokoroka expresses strong negation or an unexpectedly bad result.)
話者はこのレストランについてどう思っていますか？
Read this passage:
このレストランの料理は美味しいどころか、衛生状態も悪く、二度と行きたくない。
話者はこのレストランについてどう思っていますか？
「美味しいどころか」は、美味しいという期待に反してそうではないことを示し、さらに衛生状態も悪いと述べています。(Dokoroka indicates that contrary to the expectation of being delicious, it is not, and further states that the hygiene is also bad.)
「美味しいどころか」は、美味しいという期待に反してそうではないことを示し、さらに衛生状態も悪いと述べています。(Dokoroka indicates that contrary to the expectation of being delicious, it is not, and further states that the hygiene is also bad.)
This sentence means 'Far from helping, he only got in the way.' The structure 'AどころかB' emphasizes that B is completely contrary to what might be expected from A.
This sentence means 'Far from being able to speak Japanese, she can't even write hiragana.' It highlights a significant gap between an expected ability and the actual situation.
This sentence means 'Far from getting a raise, even my overtime pay was cut.' It shows a strong negative contrast to an expected positive outcome.
/ 108 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
どころか (dokoroka) emphasizes a strong negative contrast, meaning 'far from it' or 'much less'.
- B1
- Strong contrast
- Far from it
Basic Meaning of DOKOROKA
Understand that 「どころか」 (dokoroka) primarily means 'far from it,' 'let alone,' or 'much less.' It introduces a statement that is contrary to an expectation or a previous statement. Think of it as saying, 'Not only is X not true, but Y is actually the case,' where Y is an even more extreme or different situation than X.
Connecting to Nouns and Na-Adjectives
When connecting 「どころか」 to a noun or a na-adjective, you need to add 「だ」 (da) before it, which then becomes 「どころか」. For example, 「雨だどころか」 (ame da dokoroka) meaning 'far from being rain.' Or 「簡単だどころか」 (kantan da dokoroka) meaning 'far from being simple.'
Connecting to I-Adjectives and Verbs
For i-adjectives and verbs, you attach 「どころか」 directly to their plain form. For example, 「忙しいどころか」 (isogashii dokoroka) meaning 'far from being busy,' or 「できるどころか」 (dekiru dokoroka) meaning 'far from being able to do it.'
Emphasizing Contrast
「どころか」 is used to emphasize a strong contrast. It's often used when the reality is much worse, better, or simply very different from what was implied or expected. It expresses surprise or disbelief at the actual situation.
Exemple
彼は手伝うどころか、邪魔ばかりする。
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