Noun はおろか～すら JLPT N1 Very formal / literary

Noun wa oroka ～sura

Expresses 'not to mention ~, even ~'.

Formal, literary "not to mention X, even Y" - emphasizes Y as more extreme than the already-notable X.

Formation

Noun1 はおろか, Noun2 すら/さえ～

Explanation

The grammar point Noun はおろか～すら is used to emphasize that a particular statement applies not only to the first noun mentioned, but even more so to what comes after すら or さえ. It can be translated as ‘let alone ~, even ~’.

Example sentences

彼は走るはおろか、速く歩くことすらできない。

He can't even walk fast, let alone run.

Kare wa hashiru wa oroka, hayaku aruku koto sura dekinai.
日本語はおろか、英語さえ話しません。

He doesn't even speak English, let alone Japanese.

Nihongo wa oroka, eigo sae hanashimasen.
彼は食事はおろか、一日中何も飲まなかった。

He didn't even drink anything all day, let alone eat a meal.

Kare wa shokuji wa oroka, ichinichijuu nani mo nomanakatta.
このレストランは味はおろか、サービスさえ悪い。

Never mind the taste; even the service is bad.

Kono resutoran wa aji wa oroka, saabisu sae warui.