〜どころか
dokoroka
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
far from… / let alone… / not only not… but actually…
〜どころか means "far from (X), actually (Y)". You mention what someone might expect (X) and then knock it down: the reality is completely different, often the opposite. It has two flavours: (1) "far from X, it's the opposite" (楽になるどころか、忙しくなった), and (2) "not even the easy thing, let alone the hard one" (漢字どころか、ひらがなも読めない).
Spoken and written, fairly emphatic. Used when correcting expectations strongly, complaining, or being surprised. Because it is emphatic, it is not used in polite apologies or neutral reports.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Verb (plain form) + どころかい-adjective + どころかな-adjective (stem) + どころか (or + な + どころか)Noun + どころかSecond clause often contains 〜も〜ない (not even…) or the opposite of the first clause
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Structure | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opposite result | X どころか、(opposite of X) | 薬を飲んだら、よくなるどころか、悪くなった | Far from getting better after taking the medicine, I got worse. |
| Not even the easy thing | (hard) どころか、(easy) も〜ない | 漢字どころか、ひらがなも書けない | He can't even write hiragana, let alone kanji. |
Natural examples
薬を飲んだら、よくなるどころか、かえって悪くなった。
くすりをのんだら、よくなるどころか、かえってわるくなった。
Far from getting better after taking the medicine, I actually got worse.
かえって (on the contrary) reinforces the reversal.
彼は漢字どころか、ひらがなも読めない。
かれはかんじどころか、ひらがなもよめない。
He can't even read hiragana, let alone kanji.
Noun + どころか + easy thing + も + negative.
今年の夏は涼しいどころか、記録的な暑さだった。
ことしのなつはすずしいどころか、きろくてきなあつさだった。
This summer was far from cool; it was record-breaking heat.
休みの日はゆっくりするどころか、家事で一日中動き回っている。
やすみのひはゆっくりするどころか、かじでいちにちじゅううごきまわっている。
On my days off, far from relaxing, I'm running around doing housework all day.
あの店は安いどころか、他の店の倍の値段だった。
あのみせはやすいどころか、ほかのみせのばいのねだんだった。
That shop wasn't cheap at all; the prices were double other shops'.
Similar grammar and the difference
"This is no time/situation for X" – the speaker is too busy or troubled. どころか compares two things. Compare side by side
"Not only X but also Y", where X and Y point in the same direction. どころか reverses direction. Compare side by side
"Not to mention" – both items are true. With どころか, the first item is denied. Compare side by side
"Not limited to" – neutral addition, no reversal. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 彼は英語どころか、フランス語も話せる。
- ✓
- 彼は英語ばかりか、フランス語も話せる。
- Why
- Both items are positive (he can speak both), so the pattern is ばかりか. どころか requires the first item to be denied or reversed.
- ✗
- 忙しくて、旅行どころか。
- ✓
- 忙しくて、旅行どころではない。
- Why
- "I'm too busy for a trip" is どころではない. どころか must be followed by a second clause.
- ✗
- ひらがなどころか、漢字も読めない。
- ✓
- 漢字どころか、ひらがなも読めない。
- Why
- With "let alone", the harder thing comes first (漢字), then the easier thing with も + negative (ひらがなも).
The second clause frequently contains かえって, 逆に, or まったく to emphasize the reversal. In the "let alone" use, the order is: bigger/harder thing + どころか + smaller/easier thing + も/さえ + negative. どころか can also start a sentence as a rebuttal: それどころか (on the contrary…).
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- In 文法形式の判断, if the second clause is the opposite of the first or a "not even…" statement, どころか is the answer. If the second clause simply adds another positive item, it is ばかりか.
- Common distractors: どころではない, ばかりか, はもちろん, ものの. Check the direction of the two clauses.
- In 並べ替え, どころか is usually the second chunk; find the clause that gets denied and place it before どころか.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜どころか mean?
far from… / let alone… / not only not… but actually…. 〜どころか means "far from (X), actually (Y)". You mention what someone might expect (X) and then knock it down: the reality is completely different, often the opposite. It has two flavours: (1) "far from X, it's the opposite" (楽になるどころか、忙しくなった), and (2) "not even the easy thing, let alone the hard one" (漢字どころか、ひらがなも読めない).
How do you form 〜どころか?
Verb (plain form) + どころか / い-adjective + どころか / な-adjective (stem) + どころか (or + な + どころか) / Noun + どころか / Second clause often contains 〜も〜ない (not even…) or the opposite of the first clause. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜どころか used?
Spoken and written, fairly emphatic. Used when correcting expectations strongly, complaining, or being surprised. Because it is emphatic, it is not used in polite apologies or neutral reports.
What is the difference between 〜どころか and 〜どころではない?
"This is no time/situation for X" – the speaker is too busy or troubled. どころか compares two things.
What is the difference between 〜どころか and 〜ばかりか?
"Not only X but also Y", where X and Y point in the same direction. どころか reverses direction.
What is a common mistake with 〜どころか?
Wrong: 彼は英語どころか、フランス語も話せる。 Right: 彼は英語ばかりか、フランス語も話せる。 Both items are positive (he can speak both), so the pattern is ばかりか. どころか requires the first item to be denied or reversed.
Quick check
この薬を飲んだら、治る（ ）、もっとひどくなった。