How to tell them apart
どころか connects X to a contrasting Y to say far from X, it is actually Y, whether much lower as in 貯金どころか借金だらけだ or opposite and higher as in 寒いどころか暑いくらいだ. どころではない either says the situation leaves no room for X as in 旅行どころではない and それどころじゃない, or says X is an understatement because reality goes far beyond it as in 暑いどころではない. Thus どころか always pairs two levels for contrast, while どころではない comments on one idea as impossible now or as far beyond description.
- どころか Use どころか to link an expectation to an opposite reality, saying far from X it is actually Y, whether lower or higher.
- どころではない Use どころではない to say there is no time for X or it is out of the question given the situation, or to say reality goes far beyond X.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| どころか dokoroka | far from; on the contrary; let alone | N3 |
| どころではない dokorodehanai | out of the question; no time for ~; far beyond ~ | N2 |
どころか dokoroka
far from; on the contrary; let alone
どころか denies what comes before it and presents a stronger or opposite situation after it, often translated as far from, on the contrary, or let alone. It follows a noun directly or a verb or adjective in plain form, as in ビールどころか or 喜んでいるどころか, and それどころか is used alone as a response to correct the listener's assumption. The clause after どころか carries the speaker's main claim and is often negative or extreme, so word order matters for whether A is milder or stronger than B.
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彼はウイスキーどころかビールさえ飲まない。
He doesn't even drink beer, not to mention whiskey.
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雨はやむどころかいよいよひどくなった。
Instead of stopping, the rain increased.
どころではない dokorodehanai
out of the question; no time for ~; far beyond ~
どころではない says that circumstances make something impossible or out of the question, as in 旅行どころではない, a trip is out of the question. It follows a noun or the dictionary form of a verb, and the reason usually comes first with て or から. It can also say that something goes far beyond a description, as in 難しいどころではない, difficult does not begin to describe it. The past is どころではなかった.
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仕事が忙しくて、旅行どころではない。
I'm so busy with work that a trip is out of the question.
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熱があって、勉強どころではなかった。
I had a fever, so studying was out of the question.
どころか and どころではない are JLPT N3–N2 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.