“〜wa motoyori・wa oroka”: Not to Mention / Let Alone 〜 [JLPT N3]

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

「地元はもとより海外からも」vs「漢字はおろかひらがなも」 — “even B too” vs “not even B” (opposite directions).

「地元はもとより」 vs 「漢字はおろか」 — two opposite directions of coverage

「この温泉は地元はもとより、海外からも観光客が訪れる」 (this hot spring draws visitors not only from the local area but even from abroad) vs 「彼は漢字はおろか、ひらがなも書けない」 (he can't write kanji, let alone even hiragana) — both 「はもとより」 and 「はおろか」 cover a range “from basic to advanced,” but in opposite directions: はもとより = positive addition (A goes without saying, and even B …); はおろか = negative extension (let alone A, not even B …). This guide covers this “even …/not even …” pair, and separates it from 「だけでなく／どころか」.

Core: はもとより = adds upward (positive), はおろか = extends downward (negative)

Both are coverage of “even …/not even …,” but opposite in direction:

• はもとより = positive addition (A goes without saying, and even B …, followed by an affirmative): 漢字はもとより、敬語も使える (kanji goes without saying, and can even use keigo).
• はおろか = negative extension (let alone A (can't even do this), not even B …, followed by a negative): 漢字はおろか、ひらがなも書けない (can't write kanji, let alone even hiragana).

Feel: はもとより adds upward (even the higher one too), はおろか probes downward (not even the more basic one).

How to Connect

Examples in use

• この温泉は地元はもとより、海外からも観光客が訪れる。(This hot spring draws visitors not only locally but even from abroad.) — positive addition
• 彼は英語はもとより、フランス語も堪能だ。(He's fluent in English, and even French too.) — positive addition
• 彼は漢字はおろか、ひらがなも書けない。(He can't write kanji, let alone even hiragana.) — negative extension
• 忙しくて、旅行はおろか、休む時間もない。(So busy I have no time even to rest, let alone travel.) — negative extension
• 彼はN2はおろか、N3も受かっていない。(He hasn't passed N2, let alone even N3.) — negative extension

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① Don't reverse the direction (はもとより → affirmative, はおろか → negative). はもとより = positive addition, followed by ‘and even B (has/can/comes)' (affirmative) (地元はもとより海外からも来る = not only locally, even from abroad); はおろか = negative extension, followed by ‘not even B' (negative) (漢字はおろかひらがなも書けない = can't write kanji, let alone hiragana). Reverse them and the meaning is wrong: for positive addition use はもとより, for negative downward-probing use はおろか.

② 「はおろか」's second clause is almost always negative. はおろか carries the negative tone of “let alone A (the harder/higher one), not even B (the more basic one) …,” almost always followed by a negative (〜も…ない／〜もできない). It's often used to stress “can't even reach the most basic,” the low degree being surprising.

③ 「はもとより」 is more written, formal. はもとより (＝ もちろん, 言うまでもなく) is more written, formal, mostly in articles, speeches, reporting (品質はもとより、価格も…). Colloquially, “A goes without saying, and B too” can use 「〜はもちろん、〜も」 (もちろん is more colloquial). For formal writing use はもとより, for everyday use はもちろん.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: はもとより／はおろか／だけでなく／どころか

💡 An exam judgment tip

「はもとより・はおろか」 both stress coverage of “even …/not even …,” but in opposite directions — this is the key: ① はもとより = adds upward (positive) (A goes without saying, and even the higher/broader B …, followed by an affirmative: 地元はもとより海外からも観光客が来る = not only locally, even from abroad), more written and formal; ② はおろか = probes downward (negative) (let alone A the higher one, can't even do/have the more basic B, followed by a negative: 漢字はおろかひらがなも書けない = can't write kanji, let alone hiragana). Remember: はもとより adds upward (affirmative), はおろか probes downward (negative). Reverse the direction and it's wrong. For a positive “even from abroad …” use はもとより, for a negative “can't even the basics …” use はおろか.

❓ Common questions

Q: How do I tell 「はもとより」 from 「はおろか」? (opposite directions)

The key difference is “direction (positive addition vs negative extension)” and “affirmative/negative second clause.” 「はもとより」 = A (naturally) goes without saying, and even B … (positive addition, followed by an affirmative, extending upward/outward, more written): この製品は国内はもとより、海外でも人気だ (this product is popular domestically, and even abroad — even the broader abroad too), 彼は勉強はもとより、スポーツも得意だ (he's good at studies, and even sports too). It's “even the higher/broader one (has, can, comes).” 「はおろか」 = let alone A, not even B … (negative extension, followed by a negative, stressing ‘can't even reach the more basic,' with negative surprise): 彼は貯金はおろか、毎月の家賃も払えない (let alone savings, he can't even pay the monthly rent — can't even the more basic), 疲れて、立つことはおろか、動くこともできない (so tired I can't even move, let alone stand). It's “not even the more basic/lower one.” So: “A goes without saying, and even B (positive, upward)” → はもとより; “let alone A, not even B (negative, downward)” → はおろか. Test: an affirmative second clause (also has/can) → はもとより, a negative one (not even) → はおろか.

Q: How do I tell 「はおろか」 from 「どころか」? (both have ‘let alone …')

By “negative extension (not even the more basic)” vs “an unexpected reversal (the opposite result).” 「はおろか」 = let alone A (the harder), not even B (the more basic) … (a ‘degree' negative extension, A and B on the same degree ladder): ひらがなはおろか、自分の名前も書けない (can't write his own name, let alone hiragana — both are “writing ability,” probing down), 休憩はおろか、トイレに行く暇もない (no time even for the toilet, let alone a break). It's “not even the lower/more basic B.” 「どころか」 = far from A, rather B (an ‘unexpected reversal,' B contrary to expectation): 感謝されるどころか、怒られた (far from being thanked, I got scolded — expected thanks, got the opposite), 楽になるどころか、忙しくなった (far from getting easier, it got busier — contrary to expectation), 彼は謝るどころか、逆ギレした (far from apologizing, he got indignant). It's “not only not A, but rather B (opposite).” So: “let alone A, not even (the more basic) B (degree negative extension)” → はおろか; “far from A, rather (the opposite) B (an unexpected reversal)” → どころか. はおろか probes down the same direction to the bottom, どころか flips to the opposite direction.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「彼は漢字___、ひらがなも書けない。」(Let alone kanji, he can't even write hiragana)

(A) はおろか　(B) はもとより　(C) について　(D) にとって

Q2. 「この温泉は地元___、海外からも観光客が訪れる。」(This hot spring draws tourists not only locally but even from overseas)

(A) はもとより　(B) はおろか　(C) ばかりに　(D) どころか

Q3. 「彼はN2はおろか、N3も受かっていない。」What does this sentence mean?

(A) Let alone N2, he hasn't even passed N3

(B) He passed both N2 and N3

(C) Passed N3 but didn't take N2

(D) Passed N2 but didn't pass N3

Q4. 「はもとより」と「はおろか」の違いとして正しいものは？

(A) はもとより＝positive addition (A of course, B too 〜); はおろか＝negative extension (let alone A, not even B 〜)

(B) The two are exactly the same

(C) はもとより can only attach to negative sentences

(D) はおろか indicates a positive affirmation

Q5. 「はおろか」の後件として最も自然なものは？

(A) 基本的なことさえできない。　(B) なんでもよくできる。

(C) 全部完璧にこなした。　(D) とても上手にできる。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) はおろか ── 「漢字はおろか、ひらがなも書けない」 = negative extension (let alone A, not even B).

2. (A) はもとより ── positive addition: not to mention locally, even overseas 〜.

3. (A) Let alone N2, I haven't even passed N3 yet ── はおろか carries a negative meaning.

4. (A) ── はもとより = positive addition; はおろか = negative extension. Opposite directions.

5. (A) ── The clause after 「はおろか」 is almost always negative (“not even 〜”).