V/A/N-은/는커녕 = let alone X, much less X

안녕하세요 여러분! Koreanstudyjunkie입니다~ Today’s lesson is an advanced grammar form: 는커녕/은커녕.

About 은커녕/는커녕:

Is a Korean grammar pattern used to express a strong contrast or to emphasize that something much less significant didn’t even happen, so something greater is out of the question.

It is often translated as: “let alone”, “not even”, “far from”, “much less”

It highlights how unlikely or unachievable something is by comparing it to a lesser thing that is already not true or not possible.

STRUCTURE

Verb/Adjective + -는커녕

Noun + 은/는커녕

Forming 는커녕:

Action Verbs: Add -는커녕 (no matter the ending)

예: 먹다 → 먹는커녕

예: 가다 → 가는커녕

예: 살다 → 사는커녕 (verbs ending w/ ㄹ are changed before conjugating - remove the ㄹ)

예: 듣다 → 듣는커녕

Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives): Add -은/ㄴ커녕 depending on the ending

Final vowel endings = ㄴ

Final consonant endings = 은

예: 바쁘다 → 바쁜커녕

예: 좋다 → 좋은커녕

예: 춥다 → 추운커녕

Nouns: Add -은/는커녕 directly

Final vowel endings = 는

Final consonant endings = 은

예: 아침은커녕 (let alone breakfast)

예: 의사는커녕

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Usage:

The sentence usually includes a negative result or a situation opposite to expectations. The first sentence is the lesser/easier thing that didn’t happen. The second sentence is something greater/harder that definitely didn’t happen.

SIDENOTE: Often followed by 도 못하다, 조차 없다, or a surprising or disappointing result.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

1. 운동은커녕 집 밖에도 안 나갔어요.→ Let alone working out, I didn’t even go outside.

Explanation: 운동 is the expected or intended action, but the speaker emphasizes that they didn’t even take a simpler step (going outside). So exercising is completely out of the question.

2. 밥은커녕 물도 못 마셨어요.→ I couldn’t even drink water, let alone eat rice.

   
   

Explanation: Eating a meal (밥) is the higher action, but the speaker didn’t even manage the easier, more basic one— drinking water. This stresses how unwell, busy, or overwhelmed they might have been.

3. 공부는커녕 책도 안 폈어요.→ I didn’t even open a book, let alone study.

Explanation: Studying is what might have been expected, but the speaker says they didn’t even do the first, minimal step—opening a book— making actual studying unthinkable.

4. 어젯밤에는 자는커녕 눈도 못 감았어요. → Last night, I couldn't even close my eyes, let alone sleep.

5. 책 읽는커녕 제목도 못 봤어요. → I didn’t even see the title, let alone read the book.

   
   

6. 방 청소하는커녕 더 어질러 놨어요. → Far from cleaning, I made an even bigger mess.

   
   

7. 운전하는커녕 면허도 없어요. → I don’t even have a license, let alone drive.

This sentence flips the usual order of difficulty:

It starts with the more advanced action (driving) and emphasizes that the basic requirement (a license) isn't even met.

Explanation: You can’t possibly be driving (운전하는커녕) when you don’t even have a license (면허도 없어요). It expresses impossibility through exaggeration, showing just how far the reality is from the expected action.

8. 편한커녕 더 불편했어요.→ Far from being comfortable, it even more uncomfortable.

   
   

9. 조용한커녕 시끄러워서 못 잤어요.→ Far from being quiet, it was so noisy I couldn’t sleep.

   
   

10. 예쁜커녕 이상하게 나왔어요. → Far from looking pretty, it came out weird.

    
    

11. 건강한커녕 맨날 아파요. → Far from being healthy, I’m always sick.

    
    

12. 간단한커녕 너무 복잡했어요. → Far from being simple, it was super complicated.

    
    

13. 맛있는커녕 먹기도 싫었어요. → Far from tasty, I didn’t even want to eat it.

Explanation: This sentence emphasizes disappointment or disgust. The speaker expected or hoped the food would be tasty, but it was so unappetizing that they didn’t even want to eat it. Instead of just saying the food wasn’t good, they stress that it was so far from tasty that they had zero desire to even try it.

14. 친구는커녕 가족도 못 만났어요.→ I couldn’t even meet my family, let alone friends.

    
    

15. 선물은커녕 카드도 못 받았어요.→ I didn’t even get a card, let alone a gift.

    
    

16. 친구는커녕 아는 사람도 없어요. → I don’t even know anyone, let alone have friends.

    
    

17. 알바는커녕 면접도 못 봤어요. → I didn’t even get an interview, let alone a job.

    
    

18. 시간은커녕 여유조차 없어요. → I don’t even have a moment to spare, let alone time.

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PRACTICE SECTION:

Translate Each Sentence

1). I didn’t even look at the book, let alone do homework.

2). I can’t even speak well, let alone sing.

3). 운동은커녕 침대에서만 있었어요.

4). 공부는커녕 잠만 잤어요.

5). I didn’t even eat a meal, let alone a snack.

6). I didn’t even get a text, let alone a letter or call

7). 휴가는커녕 주말도 못 쉬었어요.

8). 선물은커녕 생일 축하도 못 들었어요.

9). I didn’t even watch TV, let alone a movie

10). Far from easy, it was really hard.

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Answer Key:

out of order

간식은커녕 밥도 못 먹었어요.

I didn’t even rest on the weekend, let alone take a vacation.

영화는커녕 TV도 안 봤어요.

쉬운커녕 정말 어려웠어요.

I stayed in bed all day, let alone exercising

편지나 전화는커녕 문자도 안 왔어요.

I didn’t even hear “happy birthday,” let alone get a gift.

노래는커녕 말도 잘 못해요.

숙제는커녕 책도 안 봤어요.

I just slept, let alone studied.