Korean grammar patterns › Level 5
-기는커녕
far from …, let alone …
Level 5 · TOPIK II · advanced
How to use it
Denies clause 1 (an expected or easier thing) and says the opposite or something worse happened. Clause 2 often has 오히려, -만, or 도 못하다 ('N은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요').
Forming it
| 듣다 | → 듣기는커녕 |
| 좋다 | → 좋기는커녕 |
| 밥 | → 밥은커녕 |
| 커피 | → 커피는커녕 |
Not followed by commands or suggestions.
Examples
칭찬을 듣기는커녕 오히려 혼났어요.
Far from being praised, I was actually scolded.
돈을 모으기는커녕 빚만 늘었어요.
Far from saving money, I only got more debt.
Compared with similar patterns
N은/는 물론 adds: 'not only N but also'; -기는커녕 rejects the first part. -기는요 is a reply that modestly denies ('Not at all').