どころか
Meanings
far from; anything but; instead of
Used after a noun, adjective, or verb to strongly deny the preceding statement and often introduce a contrasting reality. The pattern is 'X どころか Y', meaning 'far from X, actually Y' or 'not X, but rather Y'.
Far from apologizing, he got angry instead.
It's not cool at all; rather, it's almost hot.
let alone; not to mention; not only ... but also
Used to emphasize that if even the first (more likely or extreme) thing is true, then the second (less likely or more extreme) is also true. Often follows a negative statement or a rhetorical question.
He can speak not only English but French as well.
I'm so busy I can't even take weekends off, let alone a vacation.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉どころか〈物〉far from being X, it's actually Y
Far from being rich, he's up to his neck in debt.
- 〈動詞〉どころか〈物〉も〈動詞〉let alone doing X, not even Y
I was so busy that, let alone eating lunch, I didn't even have time to drink water.
- 〈動詞〉どころか〈動詞〉far from doing X, (does something quite different)
Far from speaking English, he can't even write it.
- 〈形容詞〉どころか〈形容詞〉far from being (adjective), it's actually (the opposite)
This dish was far from delicious—it was actually terrible.