Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 10: 17/20

どころかFar from, Anything but

Structure

Verb(1) + どころか
［い］Adjective + どころか
［な］Adjective + な + どころか
Noun + どころか

(1)Verb［ない］

Details

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    Standard

  • Rare Kanji

    所

About どころか

どころか is a combination of the noun ところ 'place', and the sentence ending particle か. The change from ところ to どころ is a consistent sound change that is seen regularly in sentences that use 所(ところ) negatively.

どころか may be translated as 'far from', 'let alone' or 'anything but'. It strongly negates any statement before it, while also emphasizing what comes after it.

どころか may be paired with the attributive form of any other word. However, this is not a strict rule, as it can also be seen with the 語幹(ごかん) stem form of な-Adjectives, and directly attached to nouns.

Sentences that use どころか must always have a part (B) that emphasizes some type of far more important information (in the speaker's opinion).

Fun Fact

As か simply transforms どころ into either a question, or a statement of doubt, the literal translation of どころか is similar to 'it's not even remotely (A)' as a statement, or 'do you honestly think it's (A)!?', when asking a direct question.

  • そんなにゆっくりしているどころか。
    This is not the time to be even remotely that relaxed!
  • 俺(おれ)がやるどころか？そんなことをやるのは弟(おとうと)しかいないだろ！
    Do you honestly think I would do such a thing? My brother is the only person who would do that.

Examples

--:--

    そのケーキは甘(あま)いどころか、酸(す)っぱかった。

    Far from being sweet, that cake was sour.

    吹雪(ふぶき)はやむどころか、かえってひどくなっている。

    Far from stopping, the storm instead got stronger.

    謙虚(けんきょ)になるどころかかえって傲慢(ごうまん)になっている。

    Far from being humble, he is arrogant.

    彼(かれ)は休(やす)むどころか、全力(ぜんりょく)を出(だ)し切(き)った。

    Far from taking a break, he gave everything he had.

    親切(しんせつ)にしようとしたけど、感謝(かんしゃ)されるどころか、叱(しか)られた。

    Even though I tried to be nice to her/him, far from being thanked, I was scolded.

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