〜どころか: Far from A, on the contrary B. Used to strongly deny the first statement (A) and present a contrasting reality (B) that is often more extreme or the opposite of what was expected.

〜どころか

Far from A, on the contrary B. Used to strongly deny the first statement (A) and present a contrasting reality (B) that is often more extreme or the opposite of what was expected.

N2 KMT5NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedStrong Negation Or ImpossibilityGrammar

Noun + どころかPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + どころか

い-Adjective + どころか

な-Adjective + どころか

This means "far from A, actually B." You use it to say that something is not true at all. Instead, the opposite or something much different is true.

儲かるどころか、借金までしてしまった。

Far from making a profit, I ended up in debt.

NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeBusiness & Finance

彼は英語どころか、フランス語やスペイン語も話せます。

He can speak not only English, but also French and Spanish.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceAbilityEducation

風邪が治るどころか、咳も止まらなくなった。

Far from my cold getting better, my cough has become unstoppable.

CasualPastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeMedicine & Health

部屋は静かどころか、非常に騒がしかった。

The room was far from quiet; it was extremely noisy.

FormalPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeHome & Housing Daily Life

うちの子が勉強してる？するどころか！ゲームばかりだよ。

My kid studying? Far from it! He just plays games all the time.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingEmphaticFamily & Relationships Education Games

This phrase is like saying 'not at all, actually it's even more so'. It shows a big difference from what you thought. It can mean things are much worse, or much better, than expected.

This is different from "~dokoro de wa nai". "~Dokoro ka" compares two things. It shows that the second thing is very different from the first. "~Dokoro de wa nai" means you cannot do something. This is because of your current situation. For example, "I can't play now, I have an exam" uses "~dokoro de wa nai".

Don't use this when the second part is less important. For example, you can't say "He speaks English, let alone simple greetings." The second part must be a bigger deal.

Often confused with(1)

〜はもちろん

This means "not only X, but also Y." You use it to say that X is true, and Y is also true. It shows that Y is an extra thing.

More formal alternatives(1)

〜っこない

This means 'no way' or 'impossible'. You use it when you strongly believe something cannot happen.

Less formal alternatives(4)

〜どころではない

This means you cannot do something. It is not the right time or place. Something else is more important right now.

〜はもちろん

This means "not only X, but also Y." You use it to say that X is true, and Y is also true. It shows that Y is an extra thing.

〜はもとより

A is a given, but also B; not only A, but also B. This is a formal expression used to add an item (B) to an already obvious or expected item (A). It is a more formal equivalent of 〜はもちろん.

〜はおろか

You use this to say that something very basic is not possible. This means something more difficult is also not possible. The sentence will always be negative.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

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Dictionary

〜どころか

Far from A, on the contrary B. Used to strongly deny the first statement (A) and present a contrasting reality (B) that is often more extreme or the opposite of what was expected.

N2 KMT5NeutralStandardCompound ParticleMixedStrong Negation Or ImpossibilityGrammar

Noun + どころかPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + どころか

い-Adjective + どころか

な-Adjective + どころか

This means "far from A, actually B." You use it to say that something is not true at all. Instead, the opposite or something much different is true.

儲かるどころか、借金までしてしまった。

Far from making a profit, I ended up in debt.

NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeBusiness & Finance

彼は英語どころか、フランス語やスペイン語も話せます。

He can speak not only English, but also French and Spanish.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceAbilityEducation

風邪が治るどころか、咳も止まらなくなった。

Far from my cold getting better, my cough has become unstoppable.

CasualPastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeMedicine & Health

部屋は静かどころか、非常に騒がしかった。

The room was far from quiet; it was extremely noisy.

FormalPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeHome & Housing Daily Life

うちの子が勉強してる？するどころか！ゲームばかりだよ。

My kid studying? Far from it! He just plays games all the time.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingEmphaticFamily & Relationships Education Games

This phrase is like saying 'not at all, actually it's even more so'. It shows a big difference from what you thought. It can mean things are much worse, or much better, than expected.

Don't use this when the second part is less important. For example, you can't say "He speaks English, let alone simple greetings." The second part must be a bigger deal.

Often confused with(1)

〜はもちろん

This means "not only X, but also Y." You use it to say that X is true, and Y is also true. It shows that Y is an extra thing.

More formal alternatives(1)

〜っこない

This means 'no way' or 'impossible'. You use it when you strongly believe something cannot happen.

Less formal alternatives(4)

〜どころではない

This means you cannot do something. It is not the right time or place. Something else is more important right now.

〜はもちろん

This means "not only X, but also Y." You use it to say that X is true, and Y is also true. It shows that Y is an extra thing.

〜はもとより

A is a given, but also B; not only A, but also B. This is a formal expression used to add an item (B) to an already obvious or expected item (A). It is a more formal equivalent of 〜はもちろん.

〜はおろか

You use this to say that something very basic is not possible. This means something more difficult is also not possible. The sentence will always be negative.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

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〜どころか

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

More formal alternatives(1)

Less formal alternatives(4)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜どころか

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

More formal alternatives(1)

Less formal alternatives(4)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery