much less

IPA/mˈʌtʃ lˈɛs/
IPA/mˈʌtʃ lˈɛs/

much less — 慣用語

1. used after a negative statement to say that a second thing you mention is even l

1.慣用語B2
釋義

更不用說

用於否定句，表示後者比前者更不可能

used after a negative statement to say that a second thing you mention is even less true, possible, or likely than the first thing that has already been denied — for example, saying someone cannot afford a bus ticket, much less a plane ticket

例句

Hugo can barely boil an egg, much less cook a full dinner for ten people.

Hugo 連雞蛋都煮不好，更不用說要為十個人做一頓完整的晚餐了。

barely…much less + bare infinitive (cook)

The Watanabe family could not afford a weekend trip, much less a two-week holiday in Europe.

渡邊一家連週末出遊的錢都負擔不起，更不用說到歐洲度兩週的假期了。

could not…much less + noun phrase

同義詞
  • let alone

    more informal and common in everyday speech; interchangeable in most contexts

  • never mind

    informal; often used dismissively; can also stand alone as an interjection

  • not to mention

    can follow either negative or positive clauses; more flexible but less precise for the 'even less likely' logic

  • to say nothing of

    more formal; can be used in positive or negative contexts

文法句型

[negative clause], much less + [noun phrase]

[negative clause], much less + [bare infinitive]

[negative clause], much less + [past participle]

用法筆記

The first clause must contain a negative or near-negative word (not, never, cannot, barely, hardly, seldom, nobody). 'Much less' then introduces a second item — a noun phrase, a bare infinitive (without 'to'), or a past participle — that represents something even more extreme, unlikely, or difficult than what was already denied. The same verb form as the first clause is normally repeated implicitly: 'He cannot run a mile, much less [run] a marathon.' Do not use 'much less' after a positive statement; use 'not to mention' or 'let alone' instead.

常見錯誤

❌She loves swimming, much less diving.
✅She does not enjoy swimming, much less diving.
💡'much less' requires a preceding negative statement.
❌He cannot run a mile, much less can he run a marathon.
✅He cannot run a mile, much less a marathon.
💡'much less' is not followed by a full inverted clause; repeat only the noun phrase or verb stem.
❌He barely passed the driving test, much less he did not even practice.
✅He barely passed the driving test, much less practiced enough to feel confident.
💡After 'much less', use the same verb form as the first clause or a noun phrase, not a full new clause.