At a glance
Noun はおろか、～すら means "let alone ~, not even ~". You name a bigger thing, then say that even a smaller, more basic thing is not true. The tone is emphatic and often shows surprise or frustration.
Noun₁ はおろか、Noun₂ すら / さえ / も ～
彼は漢字はおろか、ひらがなすら読めない。 He can't even read hiragana, let alone kanji.
How to form it
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Noun はおろか | 漢字はおろか |
| Verb dictionary form + こと | Verb ことはおろか | 走ることはおろか |
| Second item | Noun + すら / さえ / も | ひらがなすら |
| Second item (verb) | Verb ことすら / さえ / も | 歩くことすらできない |
Register: formal. It is more common in writing and formal speech.