HSK 6
别说
bié shuō
let alone
Structure
别说 + A (extreme/basic case), 就是/连/也 + B (current case)
How it works
The structure '别说...就是/也/还...' is used to emphasize that if a more extreme or basic situation is true, then the current situation is even more certainly true. It functions similarly to 'let alone' or 'not to mention' in English, often highlighting a contrast between a difficult task and an even more difficult one.
Examples
这种高科技产品，别说老人家了，连年轻人都不一定会用。
Zhè zhǒng gāo kējì chǎnpǐn, bié shuō lǎorénjiā le, lián niánqīngrén dōu bù yīdìng huì yòng.
As for this high-tech product, let alone the elderly, even young people might not necessarily know how to use it.
由于雨太大，别说明天的比赛，恐怕连今晚的训练都要取消。
Yóuyú yǔ tài dà, bié shuō míngtiān de bǐsài, kǒngpà lián jīnwǎn de xùnliàn dōu yào qǔxiāo.
Because the rain is too heavy, let alone tomorrow's match, I'm afraid even tonight's training will have to be canceled.
为了按时完成任务，他别说午饭了，连水都顾不上喝一口。
Wèile ànshí wánchéng rènwu, tā bié shuō wǔfàn le, lián shuǐ dōu gù bù shàng hē yīkǒu.
In order to complete the task on time, let alone lunch, he didn't even have time to drink a sip of water.
Common mistakes
Students often forget to include the correlating words like '连', '也', or '都' in the second clause, which are necessary to complete the emphasis.
Tip
Think of '别说' as a way to set a 'minimum' or 'extreme' benchmark to make your main point more dramatic or convincing.
More HSK 6 grammar
See 别说 in real Chinese
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