更不用说 (let alone / not to mention)
IntroducedFollow the scale in a let-alone argument
- Someone finds even walking difficult, making running less feasible.
- he他even连walk走路even都hard难，more更needless to say不用说run跑步。 — Running is presented as still less feasible than walking here.
Someone finds even walking difficult, making running less feasible. What does 他连走路都难，更不用说跑步。 communicate?
Running is presented as still less feasible than walking here. 更不用说 can also support a positive inference, as when knowing a difficult text implies knowing an easier one. Follow the actual scale and polarity instead of always labelling the final item harder.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is more更needless to say不用说 (let alone / not to mention). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
he他even连walk走路even都hard难，let alone更不用说run跑步。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: He can hardly walk, let alone run: 他连走路都难，____ 跑步。
(hard case)，更不用说 + X = let alone X: 更不用说跑步.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, he他even连walk走路even都hard难，more更needless to say不用说run跑步。: Running is presented as still less feasible than walking here.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
In 他连走路都难，更不用说跑步, where is the still less feasible activity?
跑步 follows 更不用说. In this negative example it is less feasible than walking; other positive contexts can use a different scale.
Know the boundary
- more更needless to say不用说 can also support a positive inference, as when knowing a difficult text implies knowing an easier one.
- Follow the actual scale and polarity instead of always labelling the final item harder.
In the walking/running example, running is presented as still less feasible.
Follow this actual ability scale. 更不用说 is not limited to negative statements or universally harder final items.
更不用说 always introduces something impossible in every context.
更不用说 can also support a positive inference, as when knowing a difficult text implies knowing an easier one. Follow the actual scale and polarity instead of always labelling the final item harder. Running is presented as still less feasible than walking here.
Use the distinction
- Running is presented as still less feasible than walking here.
- more更needless to say不用说 can also support a positive inference, as when knowing a difficult text implies knowing an easier one. Follow the actual scale and polarity instead of always labelling the final item harder.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Let alone.
Someone finds even walking difficult, making running less feasible. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.