は疎か
Let alone, Much less, Needless to say, Not to mention, Not only but also
Structure
(1)も、まで、すら
Explanation
は疎か is a phrase that functions very much like はもちろん, meaning 'not to mention (A), (B)'. The word 疎か is a な-Adjective that means 'neglectful' or 'distant'. This usage is not common in modern Japanese, where the word primarily appears in set phrases and doesn't follow the typical rules for な-Adjectives. Despite this, the original sense of 'being far removed from' is carried over in はおろか, which implies 'never mind (A), even (B) is...'
Common English equivalents are 'let alone (A), (B)', and 'to say nothing of (A), (B)'. Both (A) and (B) will belong to a similar category, with (B) being a more basic or expected example than (A). Because of this, (B) is frequently followed by the adverbial particle さえ to highlight that even this minimum standard is not being met.
- あの子は漢字はおろか、カタカナさえ読めない。That child can't even read katakana, let alone kanji.
- 忙しすぎて、休みはおろか、睡眠の時間さえないんです。I'm so busy I don't even have time to sleep, let alone take a day off.
- 祖父は走るのははおろか、一人で歩くことさえできない。My grandfather can't even walk by himself, let alone run.
Instead of さえ, other adverbial particles that serve a similar purpose, such as も, すら, or まで, can also be used. In nearly all situations, sentences that use は疎か will convey a distinctly negative feeling.
Examples
「車の運転は疎か、自転車にさえ乗れないんだ。」
'I can't even ride a bicycle, let alone drive a car.'
彼は微分積分は疎か、九九も怪しいらしい。
Apparently, he's shaky on his multiplication tables, let alone calculus.
うちのおばあちゃんはパソコンは疎か、スマホの使い方さえよく分かっていない。
My grandmother doesn't even really know how to use a smartphone, let alone a computer.
私は海外は疎か、生まれてから一度も県外に出たことがない。
I have never even been outside my prefecture, much less gone abroad.
高熱で歩くことは疎か、ベッドから起き上がることさえ辛い。
With this high fever, it's a struggle to even get out of bed, let alone walk.
彼は内気すぎて、会話は疎か、人と目を合わせることすらできない。
He is so shy he can't even make eye contact with people, let alone have a conversation.
最近は忙しすぎて、遊ぶ時間は疎か、睡眠さえ十分に取れていない。
Lately I've been so busy I can't even get enough sleep, let alone have any time to relax.
この子は難しい漢字は疎か、ひらがなさえまだ全部は書けない。
This child still cannot even write all the hiragana, let alone difficult kanji.
給料日前で、外食は疎か、コンビニのおにぎりを買うのさえためらっている。
It's right before payday, so I'm hesitant to even buy an onigiri at the convenience store, let alone eat out.
「恋人は疎か、友達と呼べる人さえ一人もいない。」
'I don't have a single person I can even call a friend, let alone a significant other.'
あのチームは優勝は疎か、一回戦を突破することさえ難しいだろう。
That team will have a hard time even getting past the first round, let alone winning the championship.
この薬は効果は疎か、副作用まで出てきて最悪だ。
This medicine is the worst; not only does it not work, it even has side effects.