JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 17

～どころか

Far from being true, the opposite is closer to reality

You’ll be able to reject one expectation and replace it with a stronger or surprising contrary statement.

Illustration of the scene described by The wind is so strong that far from having a campfire, we cannot even pitch a tent.
Read it first

風かぜが強つよくて、たき火びをするどころかテントを張はることもできません。

kaze ga tsuyokute, takibi o suru dokoro ka tento o haru koto mo dekimasen.

What do you think this sentence means?

The wind is so strong that far from having a campfire, we cannot even pitch a tent.

Why it means that

Reject an expectation with a starker reality

～どころか means "far from..." or "not to mention...". It strongly rejects a moderate expectation and replaces it with an even more extreme or difficult reality.

Examples

隣となりの部屋へやは静しずかどころか、とてもうるさい。

tonari no heya wa shizuka dokoro ka, totemo urusai.

Far from being quiet, the room next door is very noisy.

日曜日にちようびは休やすむどころか、いつもより働はたらいた。

nichiyoubi wa yasumu dokoro ka, itsumo yori hataraita.

Far from resting on Sunday, I worked more than usual.

How it is built

Attach どころか to nouns or plain forms

Attach どころか to nouns, な-adjective stems (静しずかどころか), or plain forms of verbs and い-adjectives. The following clause typically presents a much stronger or surprisingly contrary statement, often with も or さえ.

noun / plain clause+どころか
Example

独学どくがくを始はじめたが、上達じょうたつするどころか諦あきらめそうになっている。

dokugaku o hajimeta ga, joutatsu suru dokoro ka akiramesou ni natte iru.

I started self-study, but far from improving, I feel like giving up.

Compare

～ばかりでなく vs ～どころか

～ばかりでなく simply adds B to A: “not only A but also B”. ～どころか says A is nowhere near the truth: the reality (B) is far more extreme, often with も or さえ.

  • ～ばかりでなく, not only … but also

    雨あめが降ふるばかりでなく、風かぜも強つよくなった。

    ame ga furu bakari de naku, kaze mo tsuyoku natta.

    Not only is it raining, but the wind has got strong too.

    Simply adds B to A.

  • ～どころか, far from

    雨あめがやむどころか、風かぜも強つよくなった。

    ame ga yamu dokoro ka, kaze mo tsuyoku natta.

    Far from the rain stopping, the wind has got strong too.

    A (the rain stopping) is nowhere near the truth.

Examples

新あたらしい道路どうろができて、渋滞じゅうたいは減へるどころか、前まえよりひどくなった。

atarashii douro ga dekite, juutai wa heru dokoro ka, mae yori hidoku natta.

A new road was built, but far from decreasing, the traffic jams got worse than before.

貯金ちょきんするどころか、毎月まいつき友達ともだちにお金かねを借かりている。

chokin suru dokoro ka, maitsuki tomodachi ni okane o karite iru.

Far from saving money, I’m borrowing money from friends every month.

彼かれは謝あやまるどころか、私わたしのせいだと言いい出だした。

kare wa ayamaru dokoro ka, watashi no sei da to iidashita.

Far from apologizing, he started saying it was my fault.

7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.