～どころか — Far from A — actually B / not even B | JLPT N3 grammar

Meaning

Rejects an expectation: “far from A, actually B” or “never mind A — not even B”. The second half is either the opposite of what was expected or an even more extreme case.

Formation

N + どころか: 旅行 → 旅行どころか週末も休めない
V (plain form) + どころか: 痩せる → 痩せるどころか太った
いA + どころか — 安い → 安いどころか高かった
なA (な) + どころか — 静か → 静かどころか／静かなどころか
A どころか B も／さえ + negative (not even the more basic thing): 走るどころか歩くこともできない

When to use it

Where to use it: When reality sharply contradicts expectations: 謝るどころか怒り出した “far from apologizing, he got angry”, 漢字どころかひらがなも読めない “never mind kanji, he can’t even read hiragana”.
Where not to use it: Not for a calm “not only… but also…” with no clash with expectations — use ばかりか／だけでなく there. Do not confuse it with 〜どころではない “this is no time for…” (忙しくて旅行どころではない).

Examples

20 sentences

一か月いっかげつダイエットしたが、痩せるやせるどころか太ってふとってしまった。
I dieted for a month, but far from losing weight, I actually put some on.
彼かれは謝るあやまるどころか、逆にぎゃくに怒り出したおこりだした。
Far from apologizing, he actually got angry.
今月こんげつは残業ざんぎょう続きつづきで、旅行りょこうどころか週末しゅうまつも休めないやすめない。
It’s been overtime nonstop this month — never mind a trip, I can’t even rest on weekends.
熱ねつは下がるさがるどころか、夜よるになってもっと上がったあがった。
Far from going down, my fever went even higher at night.
新しいあたらしい部屋へやは静かしずかどころか、一日中いちにちじゅううるさい。
My new apartment is anything but quiet — it’s noisy all day long.
その店みせは安いやすいどころか、ほかの店みせより高かったたかかった。
That shop was far from cheap — it was pricier than the others.
彼女かのじょは英語えいごどころか、五か国語ごかこくごも話せるはなせるんです。
Never mind English — she speaks five languages.
マラソンの後あとは、走るはしるどころか歩くあるくこともできなかった。
After the marathon, never mind running — I couldn’t even walk.

12 more examples

プレゼントを送ったおくったのに、お礼おれいどころか返事へんじもない。
I sent a present, but far from a thank-you, I haven’t even had a reply.
手伝うてつだうどころか、邪魔じゃまばかりしてたんじゃない？
Far from helping, weren’t you just getting in the way?
忙しくていそがしくて、昼ご飯ひるごはんどころか水みずを飲むのむ時間じかんもなかった。
I was so busy that, far from having lunch, I didn't even have time for a drink of water.
貯金ちょきんは増えるふえるどころか、毎月まいつき減ってへっています。
Far from growing, my savings are shrinking every month.
彼かれの親切しんせつはありがたいどころか、正直しょうじきちょっと迷惑めいわくだ。
Far from being something I appreciate, his kindness is honestly a bit of a nuisance.
その店員てんいんは丁寧なていねいなどころか、挨拶あいさつもしなかった。
Far from being polite, that clerk didn't even say hello.
退院したたいいんした祖父そふは歩けるあるけるどころか、毎朝まいあさジョギングしている。
Since leaving the hospital, my grandfather isn't just walking — he goes jogging every morning.
休むやすむどころか、また仕事しごとを持ってもって帰ってかえってきたの？
Instead of resting, you've brought work home again?
この村むらにはコンビニどころか、自動販売機じどうはんばいきさえありません。
This village doesn't even have a vending machine, let alone a convenience store.
週末しゅうまつは晴れるはれるどころか、台風たいふうが来るくるらしい。
Far from being sunny, the weekend is apparently going to bring a typhoon.
息子むすこは反省はんせいするどころか、言い訳いいわけばかりしている。
Far from reflecting on what he did, my son just keeps making excuses.
この仕事しごとは楽らくどころか、毎日まいにちが戦いたたかいだよ。
This job is anything but easy — every day is a battle.

Important notes

In the escalating sense the second half usually has も or さえ with a negative: 友達どころか知り合いもいない.
Mind the logic: in negative sentences the part after どころか is the more basic thing (旅行どころか週末も休めない); in positive ones it is the bigger thing (英語どころか五か国語も話せる).
のに voices dissatisfaction with a mismatch, “although A, B”; どころか says that A not only failed to happen but the opposite or something worse did.
どころではない means “this is no time for…” (忙しくて旅行どころではない); it is a predicate, not a link between two clauses.

Common mistakes

✗ 痩せるばかりか、太ってしまった → ✓ 痩せるどころか、太ってしまった — ばかりか adds in the same direction, but here the result is the opposite.
✗ 暇だどころか、毎日残業だ → ✓ 暇どころか、毎日残業だ — な-adjectives and nouns attach without だ.
✗ ひらがなどころか、漢字も読めない → ✓ 漢字どころか、ひらがなも読めない — in a negative sentence the part after どころか must be the easier thing, not the harder one.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: プレゼントを送ったおくったのに、お礼おれいどころか返事へんじもない。 Not only did he not thank me — he even complained.The hall was not merely quiet; it felt as though everyone was holding their breath.I sent a present, but far from a thank-you, I haven’t even had a reply.
Sentence 2: 退院したたいいんした祖父そふは歩けるあるけるどころか、毎朝まいあさジョギングしている。 Not only was she late for our appointment, she didn't even get in touch.He seems worried about the result rather than angry.Since leaving the hospital, my grandfather isn't just walking — he goes jogging every morning.
Sentence 3: この仕事しごとは楽らくどころか、毎日まいにちが戦いたたかいだよ。 This job is anything but easy — every day is a battle.This room is not only cramped — it barely gets any sun either.This bag is not so much blue as the green of the deep sea.