When you want to say that something is far from happening, or that something is not even close to being true, you can use the Korean phrase ~는/은커녕.
It's like saying, "Forget about X, Y isn't even happening!" or "X? No way, not even Y is true."
You attach 는커녕 after a noun ending in a vowel, and 은커녕 after a noun ending in a consonant.
For example, if someone asks if you're rich, and you're actually broke, you could say, "부자는커녕, 돈이 한 푼도 없어요." (Rich? Forget rich, I don't have a single penny.)
When you use ~는/은커녕, you're saying that something is so unlikely, something even simpler or easier is also unlikely. Think of it like saying, "Forget about X, even Y isn't happening."
It emphasizes how far away something is from being true or possible. You attach -는커녕 to verbs and adjectives, and -은커녕 to nouns ending in a consonant, and -는커녕 to nouns ending in a vowel.
For example, if someone asks if you ran a marathon, you might say, "마라톤은커녕, 조깅도 안 했어요." (Forget a marathon, I didn't even jog.)
This phrase is useful for expressing strong negative feelings or highlighting a big difference between expectation and reality.
You can use the Korean grammar pattern ~는/은커녕 to express that something is far from being true or happening, and therefore, something even simpler or more basic is also impossible or unlikely. It's like saying "let alone" in English. For example, if someone says they can't even afford a small coffee, they might say something like "a fancy meal, let alone a small coffee."
This pattern often highlights a big difference between an expected situation and the actual, less desirable one. You attach ~는커녕 after verbs and adjectives, and ~은커녕 after nouns ending in a consonant, or ~는커녕 after nouns ending in a vowel. It's a useful way to show that a more difficult or grander thing is out of reach when even easier things are not possible.
~는/은커녕 is a grammatical pattern used to express that something is far from being the case, or that something even less significant is not true. It indicates a strong negative contrast. You attach ~는커녕 to verbs and adjectives, and ~은커녕 or ~는커녕 to nouns, depending on whether the noun ends with a consonant or a vowel, respectively. This pattern is often used when the speaker wants to emphasize that a more basic or expected action/state hasn't happened, let alone a more advanced or desired one. It implies that the situation is much worse than what might be expected. For example, if you say "돈은커녕 시간도 없어요" (I don't even have time, let alone money), it emphasizes that the lack of time is a more pressing issue than the lack of money, or that having money is completely out of the question.
~는/은커녕 is a grammatical construction used to express that something is far from happening or being the case, often implying an even more extreme or unlikely scenario. It's similar to saying "far from it" or "let alone" in English. This phrase is typically attached to nouns or verbs (in their nominalized form). When used with a noun, it directly follows the noun, such as '밥은커녕' (far from rice). When used with a verb, the verb needs to be transformed into a noun-like form, usually by adding '기는커녕' or '을/ㄹ 것은커녕'.
For example, you might hear '잠은커녕 밥도 못 먹었어요' which translates to 'Far from sleeping, I couldn't even eat.' Here, it emphasizes that not only did they not sleep, but the situation was so dire they couldn't even manage to eat. It creates a strong contrast, highlighting the unlikelihood of the first situation by presenting an even more basic or expected action that also didn't occur. This expression is particularly useful when you want to convey a sense of extreme difficulty or deprivation, where even the most fundamental things are not possible.
~는/은커녕 is a grammatical construction in Korean used to express that something is far from being the case, or that a lesser situation is even less likely to occur. It implies a strong negation of the first part of the sentence and emphasizes that the second part is even more impossible or improbable. This construction often carries a sense of disappointment or disbelief.
You can think of it as meaning "far from [X], [Y] is even more impossible" or "let alone [X], [Y] is even less likely." It's typically attached to a noun or a verb stem, with 는/은 depending on whether the preceding word ends in a vowel or a consonant. For example, if you say "밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요," you're emphasizing that you couldn't even drink water, let alone eat rice, suggesting a very difficult situation.
~는/은커녕 30秒了解
- expresses 'far from' or 'let alone'
- used when something is very unlikely or impossible
- often implies that something even simpler hasn't happened
How Formal Is It?
"Financial support, let alone, even minimal cooperation was difficult to obtain."
"A vacation, let alone, I don't even have time to rest on the weekend."
"Food, let alone, I couldn't even drink water."
"Candy, let alone, they didn't even give me fruit."
"Money, let alone, I don't even have pocket change."
发音指南
- Mispronouncing the 'ʌ' (eo) sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.
- Not smoothly connecting '는/은' to '커녕', making it sound choppy.
难度评级
Relatively straightforward to read once the particles are understood.
Requires correct particle choice (~은/는) and understanding of its grammatical function.
Can be easily incorporated into spoken sentences with practice.
Easily recognizable in conversation once familiar with the sound.
接下来学什么
前置知识
接下来学习
高级
需要掌握的语法
~는/은커녕 is attached to a noun or a verb stem followed by a noun-forming suffix (-기). It indicates that the preceding item is so far from being true or possible, that a subsequent, more basic or expected item, is also not true or possible.
돈은커녕 시간도 없어요. (I don't even have time, let alone money.)
It often implies a negative outcome or a situation that falls short of expectations.
칭찬은커녕 꾸중만 들었어요. (I only got scolded, far from getting praised.)
It can be used with both positive and negative statements, emphasizing the contrast.
합격은커녕 시험도 못 봤어요. (I couldn't even take the exam, let alone pass it.)
The particle ~은/는 is used to attach ~커녕 to a noun. If the noun ends in a consonant, use ~은커녕. If it ends in a vowel, use ~는커녕.
밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요. (I couldn't even drink water, far from eating rice.)
When used with verbs, the verb stem takes the noun-forming suffix ~기 before ~는커녕.
돕기는커녕 방해만 했어요. (They only interfered, far from helping.)
按水平分级的例句
밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요.
Far from rice, I couldn't even drink water.
공부는커녕 잠만 잤어요.
Far from studying, I just slept.
여행은커녕 집에도 못 갔어요.
Far from traveling, I couldn't even go home.
선물은커녕 축하 인사도 못 했어요.
Far from a present, I couldn't even give congratulations.
운동은커녕 걷지도 못해요.
Far from exercising, I can't even walk.
노래는커녕 말도 못 해요.
Far from singing, I can't even speak.
청소는커녕 방도 못 치웠어요.
Far from cleaning, I couldn't even tidy my room.
돈은커녕 시간도 없어요.
Far from money, I don't even have time.
밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요.
Far from eating rice, I couldn't even drink water.
도와주기는커녕 방해만 됐어요.
Far from helping, you only got in the way.
칭찬은커녕 꾸중만 들었어요.
Far from getting praise, I only got scolded.
쉬기는커녕 더 바빠졌어요.
Far from resting, I got even busier.
선물은커녕 안부 인사도 없었어요.
Far from a gift, there wasn't even a greeting.
청소는커녕 방을 더 어지럽혔어요.
Far from cleaning, I made the room even messier.
감사는커녕 불평만 했어요.
Far from gratitude, they only complained.
성공은커녕 시작도 못 했어요.
Far from success, I couldn't even start.
밥은커녕 물 한 모금도 못 마셨어요.
I couldn't even drink a sip of water, let alone eat.
도와주기는커녕 방해만 되었어요.
Far from helping, you just got in the way.
여행은커녕 주말에 쉴 시간도 없어요.
I don't even have time to rest on the weekend, let alone travel.
칭찬은커녕 꾸중만 들었어요.
Far from receiving praise, I only got scolded.
잠은커녕 눈도 제대로 못 붙였어요.
I couldn't even close my eyes properly, let alone sleep.
감사는커녕 불평만 쏟아냈어요.
Far from showing gratitude, they just complained.
수입은커녕 생활비도 부족해요.
I don't even have enough for living expenses, let alone income.
공부는커녕 숙제도 안 했어요.
I didn't even do my homework, let alone study.
语法模式
习语与表达
"~는/은커녕"
Far from, let alone; indicates that something is even less likely.
밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요. (I couldn't even drink water, let alone eat.)
neutral"엎친 데 덮친 격"
When it rains, it pours; one misfortune after another.
시험에 떨어졌는데, 지갑까지 잃어버려서 엎친 데 덮친 격이었어요. (I failed the exam, and then lost my wallet. It was one misfortune after another.)
neutral"눈 깜짝할 사이"
In the blink of an eye; very quickly.
눈 깜짝할 사이에 시간이 지나갔어요. (Time passed in the blink of an eye.)
neutral"식은 죽 먹기"
A piece of cake; very easy.
이 숙제는 식은 죽 먹기예요. (This homework is a piece of cake.)
informal"발 없는 말이 천 리 간다"
Bad news travels fast; words without feet travel a thousand li.
소문은 발 없는 말이 천 리 간다고 조심해야 해요. (Rumors travel fast, so you have to be careful.)
formal"티끌 모아 태산"
Many a little makes a mickle; even small things can accumulate to become big.
티끌 모아 태산이라고, 저축하는 습관이 중요해요. (As the saying goes, many a little makes a mickle, so saving habits are important.)
formal"하늘의 별 따기"
Like plucking a star from the sky; extremely difficult.
그 회사에 취직하는 것은 하늘의 별 따기예요. (Getting a job at that company is like plucking a star from the sky.)
neutral"가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다"
You reap what you sow; polite words beget polite words.
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다고, 항상 친절하게 말하세요. (As they say, polite words beget polite words, so always speak kindly.)
formal"배보다 배꼽이 더 크다"
The belly button is bigger than the belly; the subsidiary is larger than the main thing.
여행 경비가 배보다 배꼽이 더 커요. (The travel expenses are greater than the trip itself.)
neutral"산 넘어 산"
One obstacle after another; endless difficulties.
이 프로젝트는 산 넘어 산이에요. (This project is one obstacle after another.)
neutral句型
A은/는커녕 B도/마저/조차 (안/못/없다)
밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요. (I couldn't even drink water, let alone eat rice.)
A은/는커녕 B (밖에 안 된다)
여행은커녕 근처 공원도 못 갔어요. (I couldn't even go to a nearby park, let alone travel.)
A은/는커녕 (오히려/반대로) B
도움은커녕 방해만 되었어요. (Far from being helpful, it was actually a hindrance.)
A은/는커녕 B (하는 게 어때요/좋겠어요)
칭찬은커녕 꾸지람만 들었어요. (Far from receiving praise, I only got scolded.)
A은/는커녕 B도 어렵다
1등은커녕 통과하기도 어려워요. (It's difficult to even pass, let alone come in first place.)
A은/는커녕 B도 못 하다
책은커녕 신문도 못 읽어요. (I can't even read a newspaper, let alone a book.)
A은/는커녕 B도 안 생기다
돈은커녕 친구도 안 생겨요. (I don't even have friends, let alone money.)
A은/는커녕 B도 없다
기회는커녕 희망도 없어요. (There's no hope, let alone an opportunity.)
词族
名词
动词
如何使用
How to use ~는/은커녕
~는/은커녕 (neun/eunkeonyeong) is a phrase used to express that something is even less likely or that a desired outcome is far from being achieved. It's often translated as "far from," "let alone," or "not to mention."
You attach ~는커녕 to nouns that end in a vowel and ~은커녕 to nouns that end in a consonant. If you are attaching it to a verb or adjective, you'll use ~(으)ㄹ커녕.
It typically implies a stronger negative connotation than simply saying something isn't happening. It suggests that not only is the desired thing not happening, but even a lesser or more basic version of it isn't happening.
Examples:
1. 돈은커녕 시간도 없어요.
(I don't even have time, let alone money.)
Here, the speaker is emphasizing that they lack even the basic resource of time, making the idea of having money even more impossible.
2. 잠은커녕 밥도 못 먹었어요.
(I couldn't even eat, let alone sleep.)
This shows a situation where the person is so busy or stressed that they couldn't do the basic act of eating, let alone sleeping.
3. 그는 칭찬은커녕 비난만 받았어요.
(He received only criticism, let alone praise.)
This highlights that the person not only didn't get praise, but received the complete opposite – criticism.
4. 주말에 쉬는 건커녕 평일보다 더 바빴어요.
(Far from resting on the weekend, I was busier than on weekdays.)
Here, the expectation was rest, but the reality was even more work, emphasizing the contrast.
5. 합격은커녕 시험도 못 봤어요.
(Far from passing, I couldn't even take the exam.)
This implies that the goal of passing is so far out of reach because even the initial step of taking the exam wasn't accomplished.
Common Mistakes with ~는/은커녕
1. Misusing the particles ~는/은. Remember to use ~는커녕 after nouns ending in a vowel and ~은커녕 after nouns ending in a consonant. For verbs and adjectives, it's ~(으)ㄹ커녕.
Incorrect: 돈는커녕 (Don-neunkeonyeong) - '돈' ends with a consonant, so it should be 돈은커녕.
Correct: 돈은커녕 시간도 없어요. (I don't even have time, let alone money.)
Incorrect: 밥는커녕 (Bap-neunkeonyeong) - '밥' ends with a consonant, so it should be 밥은커녕.
Correct: 밥은커녕 잠도 못 잤어요. (I couldn't even sleep, let alone eat.)
2. Confusing it with simple negation. While ~는/은커녕 expresses a form of negation, it's stronger and implies a significant gap between expectation/desire and reality. It's not just "not X," but "far from X, even Y didn't happen."
Less effective: 그는 칭찬을 받지 않았어요. (He didn't receive praise.) - This is a simple statement of fact.
More impactful: 그는 칭찬은커녕 비난만 받았어요. (He received only criticism, let alone praise.) - This emphasizes the stark contrast and the failure to meet even a basic positive outcome.
3. Using it without a contrasting, lesser negative outcome. The effectiveness of ~는/은커녕 comes from the contrast between the stated thing (which is far from happening) and an even lesser, more basic thing that also didn't happen. If there's no such contrast, it might sound unnatural.
Awkward: 그는 부자는커녕. (Far from being rich.) - This feels incomplete. What *did* happen instead? Or what even lesser thing didn't happen?
Better: 그는 부자는커녕 먹고살기도 힘들어요. (Far from being rich, it's hard for him to even make a living.) - This clearly shows the contrasting, lesser negative situation.
4. Overusing it in situations where simpler expressions would suffice. While ~는/은커녕 is useful for emphasis, sometimes a simpler negation or contrast might be more natural in casual conversation if the level of emphasis isn't needed.
Less natural in some contexts: 커피는커녕 물도 안 마셨어요. (Far from coffee, I didn't even drink water.)
Perhaps simpler: 물도 안 마셨는데 커피는 당연히 못 마셨죠. (I didn't even drink water, so of course I couldn't drink coffee.) - Choose ~는/은커녕 when you want to strongly highlight the unlikelihood or the great distance from a desired state.
小贴士
Basic Meaning
The core meaning of ~는/은커녕 is 'far from' or 'let alone'. It emphasizes that something is so unlikely or impossible that even a lesser thing is out of the question. Think of it as saying 'not even X, let alone Y'.
Attaching to Nouns
When attaching to nouns, use ~은커녕 after a consonant and ~는커녕 after a vowel. For example, 밥은커녕 (far from rice), 잠은커녕 (far from sleep).
Attaching to Verbs/Adjectives
To attach ~는/은커녕 to verbs or adjectives, you need to first make them into noun forms. For verbs, use ~기는커녕. For example, 먹기는커녕 (far from eating). For adjectives, you can often use the ~기는커녕 form as well, or sometimes a noun form of the adjective.
Context of Negation
~는/은커녕 is always used in a negative context. The statement that follows will reinforce the idea that something is not happening or is impossible. It sets up a strong contrast.
Stronger Emphasis
This phrase provides a stronger emphasis on the impossibility or unlikelihood compared to just using a simple negation. It really drives home the point that something is not happening. It's more emphatic than just saying 'I didn't even eat'.
Common Usage: Money/Time
You'll often hear ~는/은커녕 used when talking about lack of money or time. For instance, 돈은커녕 (far from money) or 시간은커녕 (far from time).
Implied Contrast
The phrase implies a contrast between two things. The first thing mentioned with ~는/은커녕 is the more 'expected' or 'easier' thing that isn't happening, and the second is an even more difficult or unlikely thing. For example, 'I couldn't even say hello, let alone have a deep conversation.'
Don't Use with Positive Outcomes
Do not use ~는/은커녕 to express positive outcomes. It is strictly for emphasizing a lack or impossibility. It's not for 'not only X but also Y' in a positive sense.
Sentence Structure
The general structure is [Noun/Verb-기/Adj-기]는/은커녕 + [related negative statement]. The first part sets the stage for the impossibility, and the second part confirms it. For example, '잠은커녕 밥도 못 먹었어요.' (Far from sleeping, I couldn't even eat.)
Similar Expressions
While ~는/은커녕 is strong, you might encounter similar expressions like ~기는요, which can also express a degree of negation or mild disagreement, but ~는/은커녕 carries a much stronger sense of 'not even X, let alone Y'.
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of '~는/은커녕' as 'no way, no how, not even this, certainly not that.' The '커녕' part sounds a bit like 'can't get near,' which can remind you that something is far from happening.
视觉联想
Imagine a goal line. You want to say 'scoring a goal is out of the question,' and then you emphasize 'even getting near the goal is impossible.' The phrase '~는/은커녕' covers the whole distance from the 'goal' to 'not even near it.'
Word Web
挑战
Try to form two sentences using ~는/은커녕 about your daily life. One where you talk about something you couldn't do, and one where you talk about something that happened *instead* of what you expected.
在生活中练习
真实语境
When talking about not having enough time/money/resources for something basic, let alone something bigger.
- 밥은커녕 물도...
- 여행은커녕...
- 잠은커녕...
When someone is far from achieving a goal, or hasn't even started on the path to it.
- 졸업은커녕...
- 합격은커녕...
- 성공은커녕...
When someone or something is not helpful, and in fact makes things worse.
- 도움은커녕...
- 위로는커녕...
- 칭찬은커녕...
When comparing two things, and the more difficult or bigger one is out of reach because the easier/smaller one is already impossible.
- A는커녕 B도 못 하다.
- A는커녕 B조차도 어렵다.
Expressing a lack of something essential, making other things impossible.
- 돈은커녕...
- 시간은커녕...
- 건강은커녕...
对话开场白
"이번 학기 너무 바빠서 주말은커녕 평일에도 못 쉬었어요. (This semester is so busy, I couldn't rest even on weekdays, let alone weekends.)"
"다이어트는커녕 더 살이 쪘어요. 어떡하죠? (I gained more weight, let alone dieted. What should I do?)"
"그 사람은 사과는커녕 오히려 화를 냈어요. (That person got angry, let alone apologized.)"
"요즘 잠은커녕 밥 먹을 시간도 없어요. (These days, I don't even have time to eat, let alone sleep.)"
"로또 당첨은커녕 5등도 안 됐어요. (I didn't even get 5th place in the lottery, let alone win the jackpot.)"
日记主题
Think about a time you wanted to do something big, but couldn't even manage a small step. Write about it using ~는/은커녕.
Describe a situation where someone was supposed to help, but made things worse. Use ~는/은커녕.
Write about a goal you have. What are some small steps? What would be the 'far from' scenario if you couldn't even do the small steps?
Reflect on a day when everything went wrong. What couldn't you do, let alone something else? (e.g., '아침 식사는커녕...')
Imagine you're trying to learn a new skill. What's something basic you're struggling with, making the advanced parts seem 'far from' possible? Use ~는/은커녕 in your reflection.
常见问题
10 个问题While similar to expressions like ~기는커녕 and ~기는요, ~는/은커녕 specifically emphasizes that the first part of the sentence is already very difficult or impossible, making the second part even more so. It's often used to show a strong contrast or disappointment.
Yes, you can use it with both verbs and adjectives. When attaching to verbs, use the ~는커녕 form (e.g., 먹기는커녕). When attaching to adjectives or nouns, use ~은커녕 for words ending in a consonant (e.g., 돈은커녕) and ~는커녕 for words ending in a vowel (e.g., 시간은커녕).
Yes, it almost always implies a negative or difficult situation. It highlights that the first thing didn't happen, and the second, more desirable thing, definitely didn't happen either.
Sure! 돈은커녕 시간도 없어요. (Far from money, I don't even have time.) This means not only do I not have money, but I also lack time, which is perhaps even more basic.
Here's one: 쉬기는커녕 밤새 일했어요. (Far from resting, I worked all night.) This shows that resting didn't happen, and instead, the speaker had to work extensively.
It's generally a neutral expression, so you can use it in both formal and informal contexts. The politeness level will depend on the ending of the sentence.
While grammatically possible, it's not very common to use ~는/은커녕 directly in a question. It's more often used to make a statement about something that didn't happen.
A common mistake is using it when a simpler 'not even' expression would suffice, or not fully grasping the 'far from, let alone' nuance. Remember, it implies a strong contrast where the second thing is even less likely than the first.
It might feel awkward if the two things being compared aren't really in a progressive 'less likely' relationship. The phrase works best when the second part is clearly a further step or a more extreme version of the first part's impossibility.
Try thinking of situations where you've been disappointed or where something didn't happen as expected, and then something even more basic didn't happen. For example, 숙제는커녕 잠도 못 잤어요. (Far from doing homework, I couldn't even sleep.) Practice creating your own sentences about these situations.
自我测试 96 个问题
저는 사과___ 먹었어요.
는/은 is a topic marker. After '저' (I), '는' is used because '저' ends with a vowel.
이것___ 책이에요.
는/은 is a topic marker. After '이것' (this thing), '은' is used because '이것' ends with a consonant.
저는 학생___.
이에요/예요 means 'is/am/are'. After '학생' (student), '이에요' is used because '학생' ends with a consonant.
이것은 연필___.
이에요/예요 means 'is/am/are'. After '연필' (pencil), '이에요' is used because '연필' ends with a consonant.
저는 한국___.
이에요/예요 means 'is/am/are'. After '한국 사람' (Korean person), '이에요' is used because '사람' ends with a consonant.
이것은 가방___.
이에요/예요 means 'is/am/are'. After '가방' (bag), '이에요' is used because '가방' ends with a consonant.
Write a short sentence about something you don't have, using the phrase '~는/은커녕' in a simple way. For example, if you don't have a car, you could say '저는 차는커녕 자전거도 없어요.' (I don't even have a bicycle, let alone a car.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저는 돈은커녕 시간도 없어요. (I don't even have time, let alone money.)
Imagine you're really hungry. Write a sentence saying you don't even have a snack, let alone a proper meal, using '~는/은커녕'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저는 밥은커녕 간식도 없어요. (I don't even have a snack, let alone rice/a meal.)
You want to say that you can't even speak a little Korean, let alone speak fluently. Write a sentence using '~는/은커녕'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저는 한국어를 잘하는 것은커녕 조금도 말 못해요. (I can't even speak a little Korean, let alone speak it well.)
What does '비빔밥은커녕 김밥도 없어요' mean in this conversation?
Read this passage:
친구: 오늘 뭐 먹을까요? (What should we eat today?) 나: 음... 저는 비빔밥은커녕 김밥도 없어요. (Um... I don't even have kimbap, let alone bibimbap.) 친구: 그럼 빵이라도 먹을까요? (Then, shall we eat some bread at least?)
What does '비빔밥은커녕 김밥도 없어요' mean in this conversation?
The phrase '~는/은커녕' means 'far from, let alone', indicating that the second item is even less likely than the first. So, not having kimbap is even worse than not having bibimbap in this context.
The phrase '~는/은커녕' means 'far from, let alone', indicating that the second item is even less likely than the first. So, not having kimbap is even worse than not having bibimbap in this context.
What did the person NOT bring?
Read this passage:
저는 숙제는커녕 책도 안 가져왔어요. (I didn't even bring my book, let alone my homework.)
What did the person NOT bring?
The phrase '~는/은커녕' implies that if the second, simpler thing (the book) is missing, then the first, more complex thing (homework) is definitely missing too.
The phrase '~는/은커녕' implies that if the second, simpler thing (the book) is missing, then the first, more complex thing (homework) is definitely missing too.
What is the main idea of the sentence?
Read this passage:
어제는 잠은커녕 눈도 못 감았어요. (Yesterday, I couldn't even close my eyes, let alone sleep.)
What is the main idea of the sentence?
If the person couldn't even close their eyes, it's clear they couldn't sleep. The phrase '~는/은커녕' emphasizes the complete lack of sleep.
If the person couldn't even close their eyes, it's clear they couldn't sleep. The phrase '~는/은커녕' emphasizes the complete lack of sleep.
Choose the best Korean word/phrase to complete the sentence: 나는 어제 너무 바빠서 숙제___ 영화를 볼 시간도 없었어요.
The sentence means 'I was so busy yesterday that far from doing homework, I didn't even have time to watch a movie.' '~는커녕' fits perfectly to convey 'far from' or 'let alone'.
Choose the best Korean word/phrase to complete the sentence: 돈이 없어서 새 옷을 사는___ 밥도 못 먹었어요.
The sentence means 'I had no money, so far from buying new clothes, I couldn't even eat.' '~는커녕' is used to show that something is even less likely than the first thing mentioned.
Choose the best Korean word/phrase to complete the sentence: 그는 너무 피곤해서 걷는___ 말도 할 수 없었어요.
The sentence means 'He was so tired that far from walking, he couldn't even speak.' This expression emphasizes the unlikelihood of the second action.
The phrase '~는/은커녕' means 'because of'.
'~는/은커녕' means 'far from' or 'let alone', not 'because of'.
You can use '~는/은커녕' to express that a second action is even more impossible or less likely than the first action mentioned.
This is exactly how '~는/은커녕' is used: to indicate that something is even less likely than what was initially suggested.
If you say '한국어는커녕 영어도 못해요' it means 'I can't even speak English, let alone Korean'.
The phrase means 'Far from speaking Korean, I can't even speak English,' correctly conveying the intended meaning.
The speaker is saying they can't even say greetings, let alone learn Korean.
The speaker couldn't even drink water, let alone eat rice.
The speaker only played games, let alone doing homework.
Read this aloud:
피아노를 치기는커녕 악보도 못 읽어요.
Focus: 치기는커녕
你说的：
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Read this aloud:
여행을 가기는커녕 집에서 쉬고 싶어요.
Focus: 가기는커녕
你说的：
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Read this aloud:
선물을 주기는커녕 감사 인사도 못 했어요.
Focus: 주기는커녕
你说的：
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You wanted to go on a picnic, but it started raining heavily. Write a sentence saying that not only did you not go on a picnic, but you couldn't even go outside.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
소풍은커녕 밖에 나가지도 못했어요.
Someone asked if you finished your homework, but you haven't even started it. Write a sentence stating that you haven't even started your homework, let alone finished it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
숙제를 끝내기는커녕 시작도 안 했어요.
You were so busy today that you couldn't even eat lunch. Write a sentence expressing that you couldn't eat lunch, let alone dinner.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
저녁은커녕 점심도 못 먹었어요.
What did the person in the passage not even do?
Read this passage:
저는 어제 너무 바빴어요. 잠을 자기는커녕 밥도 못 먹었어요. 그래서 오늘 너무 피곤해요.
What did the person in the passage not even do?
The passage says '잠을 자기는커녕 밥도 못 먹었어요' which means 'far from sleeping, I couldn't even eat'.
The passage says '잠을 자기는커녕 밥도 못 먹었어요' which means 'far from sleeping, I couldn't even eat'.
What was difficult about the exam?
Read this passage:
이번 시험은 정말 어려웠어요. 좋은 점수를 받기는커녕 합격하기도 어려웠어요. 저는 많이 실망했어요.
What was difficult about the exam?
The passage states '좋은 점수를 받기는커녕 합격하기도 어려웠어요', meaning 'far from getting a good score, it was hard to even pass'.
The passage states '좋은 점수를 받기는커녕 합격하기도 어려웠어요', meaning 'far from getting a good score, it was hard to even pass'.
What happened on the weekend?
Read this passage:
주말에 친구와 영화를 보러 가기로 했어요. 그런데 갑자기 친구가 아파서 영화는커녕 만나지도 못했어요. 다음 주에 다시 약속할 거예요.
What happened on the weekend?
The passage says '영화는커녕 만나지도 못했어요', which means 'far from watching a movie, they couldn't even meet up'.
The passage says '영화는커녕 만나지도 못했어요', which means 'far from watching a movie, they couldn't even meet up'.
This sentence means 'Far from traveling, I just stayed home.'
This sentence means 'He doesn't even read newspapers, let alone books.'
This sentence means 'I don't even eat vegetables, let alone fruit.'
저는 돈이 없어서 새 차___ 해외여행은 생각도 못 해요. (I don't have money, so I can't even think about traveling abroad, let alone a new car.)
The '~는/은커녕' construction attaches to the verb stem, indicating 'far from doing X, even Y is impossible'. Here, '사기는커녕' means 'far from buying', making overseas travel even more out of reach.
오늘은 너무 바빠서 점심___ 아침도 못 먹었어요. (I'm so busy today that I couldn't even eat breakfast, let alone lunch.)
The pattern '~는/은커녕' is used to emphasize that a less significant thing (breakfast) wasn't done, making the more significant thing (lunch) even less likely. '먹기는커녕' fits this meaning.
그는 한국말을 잘해요? ___ 인사말도 제대로 못 해요. (Does he speak Korean well? Far from that, he can't even say greetings properly.)
'잘하기는커녕' emphasizes that he is far from speaking Korean well, to the point where even simple greetings are difficult. The '기' nominalizes the verb '잘하다' before attaching '는커녕'.
시험에 합격___ 시험 준비도 제대로 못 했어요. (Far from passing the exam, I couldn't even prepare for it properly.)
Here, '합격하기는커녕' indicates that passing the exam is out of the question because even the preparation wasn't done properly.
그는 평소에 운동___ 산책도 잘 안 해요. (He rarely even takes walks, let alone exercises normally.)
'운동하기는커녕' means 'far from exercising', highlighting that even a simple walk is uncommon for him. The '기' nominalizes the verb.
요즘 너무 바빠서 잠___ 밥도 제대로 못 먹고 있어요. (I'm so busy these days that I can't even eat properly, let alone sleep.)
'자기는커녕' expresses that sleeping is far from possible, as even eating properly is difficult due to busyness. '자기' is the nominalized form of '자다' (to sleep).
Choose the most natural sentence using '~는/은커녕' in the context: 'I couldn't even get tickets, _______ meet the band.'
The phrase '~는/은커녕' means 'far from' or 'let alone'. The best option uses '생각도 못 했어요' (couldn't even imagine) to emphasize the unlikelihood of meeting the band, given the difficulty of getting tickets.
Which sentence correctly uses '~는/은커녕' to express that the first thing didn't happen, let alone the second, more difficult thing?
The core meaning of '~는/은커녕' is that a more difficult or advanced action (succeeding) is impossible because a simpler, prerequisite action (starting) didn't even happen. Option D best captures this relationship.
Select the sentence that uses '~는/은커녕' to indicate a strong contrast where even a basic action is impossible, making a more advanced one unthinkable.
This sentence perfectly illustrates that if the simpler task (boiling ramen) is impossible, the more complex one (cooking rice) is certainly out of reach. The other options show a contrast, but not necessarily this specific 'simpler action prevents more advanced action' relationship as clearly.
The sentence '선물은커녕 축하 인사도 못 전했어요.' means 'I couldn't even give a gift, let alone congratulate them.'
The correct translation is 'I couldn't even give a congratulatory message, let alone a gift.' The structure indicates that the less significant thing (congratulatory message) didn't happen, making the more significant thing (gift) impossible.
In '여행은커녕 집에서 쉬지도 못했어요.', the speaker implies they didn't even get to rest at home, so traveling was definitely not an option.
This statement accurately reflects the meaning of '~는/은커녕'. The inability to do the simpler action (resting at home) makes the more complex one (traveling) impossible.
When using '~는/은커녕', the item before '커녕' is typically something less likely or harder to achieve than the item that follows it.
This is incorrect. The item before '커녕' is typically something *more basic* or *less significant* that didn't happen, implying the more advanced/significant item that follows it is also impossible.
He can't even drink water, let alone eat rice.
I couldn't even start, let alone succeed.
I can't even go outside, let alone travel.
Read this aloud:
졸업은커녕 다음 학기 등록금도 없어요.
Focus: 졸업은커녕
你说的：
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Read this aloud:
선물은커녕 안부 인사도 없었다.
Focus: 선물은커녕
你说的：
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Read this aloud:
도움은커녕 방해만 됐어요.
Focus: 도움은커녕
你说的：
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You planned to go on a fancy vacation but ended up just staying home. Write a sentence using ~는/은커녕 to express this situation. (Hint: 'fancy vacation' is 호화로운 휴가, 'staying home' is 집에만 있었다).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
호화로운 휴가는커녕, 집에만 있었다.
You wanted to buy a new car, but you couldn't even afford a bicycle. Use ~는/은커녕 to describe this. (Hint: 'new car' is 새 차, 'bicycle' is 자전거).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
새 차는커녕, 자전거도 못 샀다.
Someone asked if you got a promotion, but you're actually worried about losing your job. Write a sentence using ~는/은커녕. (Hint: 'promotion' is 승진, 'losing job' is 해고될까 봐 걱정이다).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
승진은커녕, 해고될까 봐 걱정이다.
Based on the passage, what is true about '그는 대학교 졸업은커녕 고등학교도 제대로 마치지 못했다'?
Read this passage:
그는 대학교 졸업은커녕 고등학교도 제대로 마치지 못했다. 그래서 좋은 직장을 구하기가 어려웠다. He couldn't even finish high school, let alone graduate from college. That's why it was hard for him to find a good job.
Based on the passage, what is true about '그는 대학교 졸업은커녕 고등학교도 제대로 마치지 못했다'?
The phrase '대학교 졸업은커녕' implies that graduating college is a much higher goal, and '고등학교도 제대로 마치지 못했다' indicates he couldn't even achieve the lower goal of finishing high school.
The phrase '대학교 졸업은커녕' implies that graduating college is a much higher goal, and '고등학교도 제대로 마치지 못했다' indicates he couldn't even achieve the lower goal of finishing high school.
What does the speaker imply about becoming rich?
Read this passage:
친구가 나에게 부자가 될 거라고 했지만, 부자는커녕 당장 먹고 살 돈도 부족하다. I have a friend who told me I'd become rich, but far from being rich, I don't even have enough money to live right now.
What does the speaker imply about becoming rich?
The phrase '부자는커녕' highlights that being rich is an impossible idea, given the current struggle of not having enough money to live.
The phrase '부자는커녕' highlights that being rich is an impossible idea, given the current struggle of not having enough money to live.
What did the person NOT eat?
Read this passage:
그는 아침밥은커녕 어젯밤부터 아무것도 못 먹었다고 했다. He said he hadn't eaten anything since last night, let alone breakfast.
What did the person NOT eat?
The '아침밥은커녕' indicates that breakfast is the basic thing, and not eating '어젯밤부터 아무것도' means he hasn't eaten for an even longer period.
The '아침밥은커녕' indicates that breakfast is the basic thing, and not eating '어젯밤부터 아무것도' means he hasn't eaten for an even longer period.
Choose the most natural sentence using '~는/은커녕' to express that someone is not even close to being able to do something advanced, let alone basic tasks.
When using verbs with ~는/은커녕, the verb typically takes the ~기 form. Therefore, 걷기는커녕 is the correct and most natural usage.
Which sentence correctly uses '~는/은커녕' to indicate that a difficult task is out of reach, and even a simpler, related task is impossible?
When ~는/은커녕 follows a noun, the particle 은/는 is used appropriately. '합격' is a noun here, so '합격은커녕' is correct.
Select the sentence that best uses '~는/은커녕' to convey that something is completely opposite or far from what was expected or desired.
The particle 은/는 is correctly attached to the noun '도움' to express the nuance of 'far from being' or 'let alone'.
The sentence '그는 돈은커녕, 시간도 없다.' (He doesn't even have time, let alone money.) correctly uses '~는/은커녕' to indicate that he lacks both money and time, with money being the more significant lack.
The phrase '돈은커녕, 시간도 없다' appropriately uses ~는/은커녕 to emphasize the lack of money, implying that even the less valuable 'time' is also absent.
In the sentence '사랑은커녕, 관심조차 없어 보인다.' (He doesn't even seem to have interest, let alone love.), '~는/은커녕' correctly indicates that the absence of interest is a more fundamental problem than the absence of love.
The sentence correctly uses '~는/은커녕' to convey that the person lacks even basic interest, making the possibility of love even more remote.
The sentence '그녀는 영어는커녕, 한국말도 잘 못 한다.' (She can't even speak Korean well, let alone English.) implies that her Korean skills are worse than her English skills.
The sentence actually implies the opposite: she cannot speak Korean well, which is a more basic expectation, therefore, her English skills (which are generally harder for a Korean speaker) would be even worse or non-existent. The phrase emphasizes the lack of the first mentioned item (영어) even more strongly, given the lack of the second (한국말).
You planned to go on a fancy vacation but ended up just staying home. Write a sentence using ~는/은커녕 to express this situation. Focus on the contrast between your grand plan and the reality.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
해외여행은커녕, 집에서 쉬지도 못했어요. (Far from going on an overseas trip, I couldn't even rest at home.)
You were so busy you couldn't even eat properly, let alone finish all your work. Write a sentence expressing this using ~는/은커녕.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
밀린 일은커녕, 식사조차 제대로 할 수 없었어요. (Far from catching up on my piled-up work, I couldn't even eat properly.)
Someone asks if you've started preparing for a major exam, but you haven't even bought the textbooks yet. Use ~는/은커녕 to explain your situation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
시험 준비는커녕, 교재조차 사지 못했어요. (Far from preparing for the exam, I haven't even bought the textbooks yet.)
What is the main point the speaker is trying to convey?
Read this passage:
친구가 나에게 좋은 직장을 구했냐고 물었지만, 나는 좋은 직장은커녕, 아르바이트 자리도 못 찾고 있었다. (My friend asked me if I found a good job, but far from a good job, I couldn't even find a part-time job.)
What is the main point the speaker is trying to convey?
The phrase '좋은 직장은커녕, 아르바이트 자리도 못 찾고 있었다' clearly indicates that they haven't even managed to find a part-time job, let alone a good one.
The phrase '좋은 직장은커녕, 아르바이트 자리도 못 찾고 있었다' clearly indicates that they haven't even managed to find a part-time job, let alone a good one.
What does the sentence imply about the person's behavior?
Read this passage:
그는 약속 시간은커녕, 연락조차 없었다. (Far from the promised time, there was no even contact from him.) 이 문장이 전달하고자 하는 바는 무엇입니까?
What does the sentence imply about the person's behavior?
The use of '약속 시간은커녕, 연락조차 없었다' emphasizes that not only did he miss the appointment time, but he also failed to make any contact, indicating a complete disregard.
The use of '약속 시간은커녕, 연락조차 없었다' emphasizes that not only did he miss the appointment time, but he also failed to make any contact, indicating a complete disregard.
What does '성공은커녕' signify in this sentence?
Read this passage:
이번 프로젝트는 성공은커녕, 시작조차 하지 못했다. (Far from success, this project couldn't even begin.) 이 문장에서 '성공은커녕'이 의미하는 바는 무엇입니까?
What does '성공은커녕' signify in this sentence?
The phrase '성공은커녕, 시작조차 하지 못했다' highlights that the project couldn't even commence, making success an entirely distant and unachieved goal.
The phrase '성공은커녕, 시작조차 하지 못했다' highlights that the project couldn't even commence, making success an entirely distant and unachieved goal.
This sentence emphasizes that someone struggles even with walking, let alone running.
This sentence indicates that someone couldn't even answer basic questions, let alone easy ones.
This sentence implies that someone was a hindrance, far from being helpful.
그는 사과___ 돈도 없다.
받침이 있는 명사 뒤에는 '은커녕'을 사용합니다.
바쁜 일정으로 식사___ 잠도 제대로 못 잤어요.
받침이 없는 명사 뒤에는 '는커녕'을 사용합니다.
이번 프로젝트는 성공___ 시작조차 못 했습니다.
'성공'에 받침이 있으므로 '은커녕'이 맞습니다.
그는 영어___ 한국어도 잘 못 해요.
'영어'에 받침이 없으므로 '는커녕'이 맞습니다.
감기 때문에 학교___ 외출도 어렵다.
'학교'에 받침이 없으므로 '는커녕'이 맞습니다.
그는 친구___ 아는 사람도 별로 없어요.
'친구'에 받침이 없으므로 '는커녕'이 맞습니다.
The speaker is expressing a lack of not only money but also time.
The speaker received scolding instead of praise.
The speaker couldn't even start, let alone succeed.
Read this aloud:
밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요.
Focus: 밥은커녕
你说的：
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Read this aloud:
선물은커녕 안부 인사도 없었어요.
Focus: 선물은커녕
你说的：
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Read this aloud:
도움은커녕 방해만 되었어요.
Focus: 도움은커녕
你说的：
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You planned to go on a trip, but unforeseen circumstances led to a series of unfortunate events, preventing you from even leaving your house. Describe what happened using '~는/은커녕' to emphasize how far you were from your original goal.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
여행은커녕 집을 나서는 것조차 힘들었어요. 아침부터 차 시동이 안 걸리고, 간신히 고치고 나니 비행기 시간이 지났더군요. 결국 여행은 취소하고 집에서 쉬어야만 했어요.
You were so busy at work that you couldn't even think about taking a proper lunch break, let alone finishing all your tasks. Write about this situation using '~는/은커녕'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
오늘은 너무 바빠서 점심은커녕 물 마실 시간도 없었어요. 밀린 일을 처리하다 보니 퇴근 시간도 훌쩍 넘겼네요. 결국 모든 업무를 끝내지 못하고 다음 날로 미루게 되었어요.
Imagine you tried to bake a fancy cake, but it turned out to be a complete disaster. You couldn't even get the basic dough right, let alone decorate it. Describe your baking fail using '~는/은커녕'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
근사한 케이크를 만들려 했는데, 장식은커녕 반죽도 제대로 못 만들었어요. 오븐에서 꺼내보니 완전 시커멓게 타버렸지 뭐예요. 정말 대실패였어요.
이 글에서 필자가 말하고자 하는 주요 내용은 무엇인가요?
Read this passage:
이번 프로젝트는 기대했던 것과는 너무 달랐다. 성공은커녕 기본 목표 달성조차 어려웠고, 팀원들 간의 갈등도 심해져 분위기는 최악이었다. 결국, 프로젝트는 중단되었고 모두가 실망감을 감출 수 없었다.
이 글에서 필자가 말하고자 하는 주요 내용은 무엇인가요?
'성공은커녕 기본 목표 달성조차 어려웠다'는 표현을 통해 프로젝트가 매우 저조한 성과를 보였음을 알 수 있습니다.
'성공은커녕 기본 목표 달성조차 어려웠다'는 표현을 통해 프로젝트가 매우 저조한 성과를 보였음을 알 수 있습니다.
이 글의 주인공에 대한 설명으로 옳은 것은 무엇인가요?
Read this passage:
그는 평생을 학문에 바쳤지만, 유명한 학자가 되는 것은커녕 자신의 연구를 제대로 인정받지도 못했다. 그럼에도 불구하고 그는 묵묵히 자신의 길을 걸었고, 마침내 작은 성과라도 얻을 수 있었다.
이 글의 주인공에 대한 설명으로 옳은 것은 무엇인가요?
'유명한 학자가 되는 것은커녕 자신의 연구를 제대로 인정받지도 못했다. 그럼에도 불구하고 그는 묵묵히 자신의 길을 걸었고'라는 문장에서 그의 상황과 태도를 유추할 수 있습니다.
'유명한 학자가 되는 것은커녕 자신의 연구를 제대로 인정받지도 못했다. 그럼에도 불구하고 그는 묵묵히 자신의 길을 걸었고'라는 문장에서 그의 상황과 태도를 유추할 수 있습니다.
필자가 우주비행사가 될 수 없었던 주된 이유는 무엇인가요?
Read this passage:
어릴 적 꿈은 우주비행사였지만, 지금은 우주비행은커녕 비행기 타는 것도 겁이 난다. 높은 곳에 대한 공포증이 생긴 이후로 여행도 잘 다니지 못하게 되었다. 가끔은 꿈 많던 어린 시절이 그립다.
필자가 우주비행사가 될 수 없었던 주된 이유는 무엇인가요?
'우주비행은커녕 비행기 타는 것도 겁이 난다. 높은 곳에 대한 공포증이 생긴 이후로 여행도 잘 다니지 못하게 되었다'는 문장에서 주된 이유를 알 수 있습니다.
'우주비행은커녕 비행기 타는 것도 겁이 난다. 높은 곳에 대한 공포증이 생긴 이후로 여행도 잘 다니지 못하게 되었다'는 문장에서 주된 이유를 알 수 있습니다.
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Summary
Use '~는/은커녕' to say something is far from true or even less likely to happen, often highlighting that a more basic thing hasn't occurred.
- expresses 'far from' or 'let alone'
- used when something is very unlikely or impossible
- often implies that something even simpler hasn't happened
Basic Meaning
The core meaning of ~는/은커녕 is 'far from' or 'let alone'. It emphasizes that something is so unlikely or impossible that even a lesser thing is out of the question. Think of it as saying 'not even X, let alone Y'.
Attaching to Nouns
When attaching to nouns, use ~은커녕 after a consonant and ~는커녕 after a vowel. For example, 밥은커녕 (far from rice), 잠은커녕 (far from sleep).
Attaching to Verbs/Adjectives
To attach ~는/은커녕 to verbs or adjectives, you need to first make them into noun forms. For verbs, use ~기는커녕. For example, 먹기는커녕 (far from eating). For adjectives, you can often use the ~기는커녕 form as well, or sometimes a noun form of the adjective.
Context of Negation
~는/은커녕 is always used in a negative context. The statement that follows will reinforce the idea that something is not happening or is impossible. It sets up a strong contrast.
例句
밥은커녕 물 한 모금도 못 마셨다.
相关内容
更多emotions词汇
받아들이다
A2To accept, to embrace, to take in.
아파하다
A2To feel pain or sorrow.
감탄스럽다
A2To be admirable or wonderful; to inspire awe.
감탄
A2Admiration or marvel; a feeling of wonder.
감탄하다
A2To admire or to marvel; to express wonder.
기특하다
B1Admirable for a good deed or thought; commendable.
충고
B1Guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action; advice.
애정
B1Affection; a gentle feeling of fondness or liking.
애틋하다
B2To be tender, fond, or wistful.
살갑다
B2To be warm, friendly, affectionate.
