どころか (dokoroka)

Meaning & usage

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.

Example sentences 4

1. 彼かれはウイスキーどころかビールさえ飲のまない。

   He doesn't even drink beer, not to mention whiskey.

2. 雨はやむどころかいよいよひどくなった。

   Instead of stopping, the rain increased.

3. 父は喜んでいるどころか、とても怒っている。

   Far from being pleased, my father is very angry.

4. １ドルどころか、１セントも持っていない。

   I don't have a cent, let alone a dollar.