“〜dokoro ka”: Far From 〜 / Not Only 〜 but Even 〜 (emphatic contrast) [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「上手などころかプロ並みだ」「守るどころか連絡もない」 — reality overshoots or falls far short of the claim.

「上手などころか、プロ級だ」 — 「どころか」, “far from…／let alone…”

「彼はテニスが上手などころか、プロ級だ」 (far from just good at tennis, he's pro level) — 「(plain form／noun) ＋ どころか」 carries a strong reversal: it denies the former's degree, then brings a far-exceeding (or opposite) latter. Two feels: ① far from A, it's even (more impressive) B; ② let alone A, even (the opposite) B. This guide covers 「どころか」's two uses, that “nowhere close” tone, and how it differs from 「ばかりか」.

Core: deny the former's degree, bring a far-exceeding or opposite latter

「〜どころか」 = “far from…／let alone…,” denying the former's degree and bringing a wildly different latter:

• ① Far from A, even (more than expected) B (escalating up): 上手などころか、プロ級だ (far from good, he's pro level).
• ② Let alone A, even (the opposite) B (flipping the other way): 貯金どころか、借金がある (let alone savings, I have debt).

Feel: “it's nowhere close to what you think” — the former is denied, the latter is a more extreme or opposite fact.

How to Connect

例句解析

• 彼はテニスが上手などころか、プロ級だ。(Far from just good at tennis, he's pro level.) — far from (escalating)
• 彼女は約束を守るどころか、連絡もしない。(Let alone keeping her promise, she doesn't even get in touch.) — let alone (reversal)
• この問題は難しいどころか、誰も解けない。(Far from just hard, no one can solve it.) — escalating
• 宿題をするどころか、授業中も寝ている。(Let alone doing homework, he even sleeps in class.) — reversal
• 貯金どころか、借金だらけだ。(Let alone savings, I'm buried in debt.) — opposite

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① The latter must be “more extreme” or “opposite.” After どころか there's always a fact far beyond, or opposite to, the former — 上手などころかプロ級 (more extreme), 守るどころか連絡もしない (opposite). It can't take something similar to the former.

② 「どころか」 (reversal, denies the former) vs 「ばかりか」 (addition, affirms the former). ばかりか = A is true, and even B (both hold, escalating) (頭がいいばかりか、スポーツも = smart, and also good at sports); どころか = denies A's degree, actually (a more/opposite) B (上手などころかプロ級 = it's not just “good,” it's pro level／守るどころか連絡もしない = not keeping promises, the opposite). ばかりか affirms the former and adds; どころか denies the former and flips.

③ Often carries a “surprise, correcting the other's assumption” tone. どころか is often for “you think A? nowhere close — actually B,” with a correcting, gap-stressing tone (難しいどころか、簡単すぎる = far from hard, it's way too easy).

🔄 Compare: どころか／ばかりか／だけでなく

💡 The one thing to remember

The soul of 「どころか」 is “it's nowhere close to what you think” — deny the former's degree, then bring a far-exceeding or opposite latter. Two uses: ① far from A, even (more impressive) B (上手などころかプロ級 = it's not “good,” it's pro level, escalating up); ② let alone A, even (opposite) B (貯金どころか借金がある = let alone savings, I have debt, flipping the other way). The key difference from 「ばかりか」: ばかりか affirms the former and adds (A is true, plus B); どころか denies the former and flips (it's not A, actually (a more/opposite) B). It's often for correcting an assumption and stressing a gap — a strong, dramatic tone. To express “not just／actually the opposite,” どころか fits best.

❓ FAQ

Q: How do I tell 「どころか」 from 「ばかりか」?

The key: どころか denies the former, ばかりか affirms it. 「ばかりか」 = A is true, and even B (both hold, B is an escalating addition): 彼は頭がいいばかりか、スポーツも得意だ (he's smart, and even good at sports — smart is true, plus one more). 「どころか」 = denies A's degree, actually (a more extreme or opposite) B: 彼はテニスが上手などころか、プロ級だ (far from “good” — he's pro level, denying “just good”)／約束を守るどころか、連絡もしない (let alone keeping promises, he doesn't even get in touch — opposite). So: ばかりか = “not only A, also B” (A holds); どころか = “far from A, actually (a more/opposite) B” (denies A's degree).

Q: Does 「どころか」 always need a more extreme latter?

Yes — after 「どころか」 there's always content that “far exceeds the former” or “is opposite to it,” which is its core (stressing the gap). Two directions: ① escalating up (more extreme): この問題は難しいどころか、誰も解けない (far from hard, no one can solve it — more extreme). ② flipping the other way (opposite): 貯金するどころか、借金が増えた (let alone saving, my debt grew — opposite). It can't take something “similar to, or milder than, the former” (✗ 上手などころか、まあまあだ is wrong). Remember: after どころか = a stronger/opposite fact that's “nowhere close.”

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「彼は上手な___、プロ並みだ。」(Far from just skilled, he's practically professional level)

(A) ばかりか　(B) どころか　(C) ものの　(D) くせに

Q2. 「彼女は約束を守る___、連絡もしてくれなかった。」(Far from keeping her promise, she didn't even contact me)

(A) どころか　(B) ものの　(C) くせに　(D) にもかかわらず

Q3. 「この問題は難しい___、誰も解けなかった。」(Far from just hard, no one could solve it at all)

(A) だけでなく　(B) どころか　(C) ものの　(D) にしても

Q4. 「宿題を___、授業中も寝ていた。」(Far from doing homework, he even slept during class)

(A) するどころか　(B) しないどころか　(C) しているどころか　(D) していないどころか

Q5. What kind of content follows どころか?

(A) Always something smaller/weaker than the first clause

(B) Always something bigger/stronger/more extreme than the first clause

(C) Content of the same degree as the first clause

(D) The cause/reason of the first clause

Answer Explanations

1. (B) どころか ── 「上手などころか、プロ並み (far from just skilled, practically pro level)」= exceeding expectation in a positive direction → どころか.

2. (A) どころか ── 「守るどころか、連絡もしない (far from keeping her promise, she didn't even contact me)」= exceeding in a negative direction, worse than expected → どころか.

3. (B) どころか ── 「難しいどころか、誰も解けない (far from just hard, no one could solve it)」= exceeding in a negative direction → どころか.

4. (B) しないどころか ── 「宿題をしないどころか (far from doing homework), 授業中も寝ていた」= not doing homework (negation of the first clause) + an even worse act (second clause) → plain ない-form + どころか.

5. (B) ── the second clause of どころか is always content that is "more extreme/stronger/more unexpected" than the first; it can be positive or negative, but always exceeds the degree of the first clause.