JLPT N2 Grammar
· Upper Intermediate
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· Upper Intermediate
Far from; on the contrary
Category: Contrast & Opposition
The grammar pattern "V-plain / A-i / A-na (na) / N + どころか" is used to emphasize that the actual situation is far more extreme than what was expected or previously stated. This pattern often follows a negative context and is used to convey a sense of surprise or astonishment. For example, if someone says that a person is sick, but then reveals that the person's condition is worsening, the pattern would be used to express the unexpected severity of the situation.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| V-plain | V-plain + A-i + A-na (na) + N + どころか | V-plain: する (to do), A-i: 良く (well), A-na (na): 悪く (badly), N: 病気 (illness), どころか: どころか |
| A-i | A-i + N + どころか | A-i: 良く (well), N: 病気 (illness), どころか: どころか |
| A-na (na) | A-na (na) + N + どころか | A-na (na): 悪く (badly), N: 病気 (illness), どころか: どころか |
| N + どころか | N + どころか | N: 病気 (illness), どころか: どころか |
病気は良くなる______、ますます悪化しているようだ。
byouki wa yokunaru______、masumasu akubashita you da.
The illness is getting better______, but it's worsening even more.
byouki wa yokunaru (the illness is getting better) + どころか (far from) + masumasu akubashita (is worsening even more)
彼は漢字______、ひらがなも書けない。
kare wa kanji______、hiragana mo kaku nai.
He can't even write hiragana______.
kare wa kanji (he can't even write kanji) + どころか (far from) + hiragana mo kaku nai (can't even write hiragana)
静か______、工事の音がうるさくて全然眠れなかった。
shizuka______、kouji no oto ga urasaku te zenzen nemure naka tta.
It was quiet______, but the noise from the construction was so loud that I couldn't sleep at all.
shizuka (quiet) + どころか (far from) + kouji no oto ga urasaku (the noise from the construction was so loud)
This pattern is used to emphasize that the actual situation is far more extreme than what was expected or previously stated. It often follows a negative context and is used to convey a sense of surprise or astonishment. The pattern can be used in formal or informal writing, but it's more common in informal conversation.
～どころか and ～ばかりか are often confused because they both emphasize the extremity of a situation. However, ～どころか is used to express that the actual situation is far more extreme than what was expected, while ～ばかりか is used to emphasize that something is not only true, but also more extreme than expected.
The word order of this pattern is crucial. The extreme case must come after どころか, otherwise the sentence will not convey the intended meaning.
～どころか and ～どころではない are often mixed up because they both contain the word どころか. However, ～どころか is used to express that the actual situation is far more extreme than what was expected, while ～どころではない is used to express that something is not in a situation to do X.
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to emphasize the extremity of the situation and use the correct word order. Also, be careful not to confuse it with other patterns that convey similar meanings.
病気は良くなる______、ますます悪化しているようだ。
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