Japanese grammar
What does ～どころか mean? Japanese grammar N2
～どころか means far from…, in fact the opposite is true; let alone… (reality is the opposite).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N2 |
|---|---|
| Structure | 普通形 + どころか N + どころか |
| Romaji | dokoroka |
| Meaning | far from…, in fact the opposite is true; let alone… (reality is the opposite) |
Forming it
| Noun | お金 + どころか |
|---|---|
| Verb | 謝る + どころか |
How to use it
Denies an expectation and states a reality that is the OPPOSITE of/far beyond it; carries a surprised nuance, usually negative.
- 「～どころか」 states a reality that is the OPPOSITE of or FAR BEYOND what the listener/speaker expects: "far from not…, on the contrary…". The second clause is usually more extreme and surprising.
- Different from 「だけでなく／ばかりか」 (adding something in the SAME direction): 「どころか」 emphasizes the OPPOSITE direction or a huge gap from what was expected.
- Often paired with 「も」 in the second clause for emphasis.
Examples
彼は謝るどころか、怒り出した。
Far from apologizing, he got angry.
お金が貯まるどころか、借金が増えた。
Far from saving money, my debt increased.
Keep in mind
- Nouns connect directly: 「N + どころか」.
- Can negate a mild assumption to state a much stronger degree.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong日本語どころか、英語も話せる。
Not only Japanese, he can also speak English.
Correct日本語だけでなく、英語も話せる。
"Not only… but also" (same direction) uses 「だけでなく／ばかりか」; 「どころか」 is used when the second clause is the OPPOSITE of/far beyond expectation.
-
Wrong少し高いどころか、まあまあの値段だ。
Far from cheap, it's incredibly expensive.
Correct安いどころか、とても高い。
「どころか」 emphasizes a STRONGLY OPPOSITE degree from expectation; it is not used for a slight/neutral difference.
Exam tips
- 「どころか」 = a reality that is the OPPOSITE of/far beyond expectation; different from 「だけでなく」 (same direction, additive).