-기는커녕
Used to say that not only is [X] not happening, but even something much simpler (Y) isn't happening either. OR, used when the result is completely opposite to what was expected from [X].
Summary
Equivalent
Far from..., Let alone...
Also: 은/는 고사하고
Example
Far from studying, I played games all day.
공부를 하기는커녕 하루 종일 게임만 했어요.
Grammar rules
- Type 1: 'Not only is [X] impossible, even [Y — a simpler thing] isn't possible.' E.g.: 'Far from running, I can't even walk.' Type 2: 'Far from [X], the opposite happened.' Often paired with '오히려' (rather/instead).
- Both types are very natural in conversational Korean.
- When used with nouns directly, use '은/는커녕' instead of '-기는커녕'.
아침은커녕 점심도 못 먹었어요. (I couldn't eat lunch, let alone breakfast.)
- Can be replaced with '은/는 고사하고' or '-는 것은 고사하고' with nearly the same meaning.
여행은 고사하고 집 밖에도 못 나갔어요. (Let alone a trip, I couldn't even leave the house.)
Patterns
A/V (Adj/Verbs)
현재 (Present) · -기는커녕
N (Nouns)
현재 (Present) · 은/는커녕
Example sentences
Far from studying, I played games all day.
공부를 하기는커녕 하루 종일 게임만 했어요.
Far from losing weight, I actually gained more and was taken aback.
살이 빠지기는커녕 오히려 더 쪄서 당황했어요.
Let alone coming to visit, there wasn't even a single phone call.
찾아오기는커녕 전화 한 통도 없었어요.
Conversation
A: You were looking forward to the restaurant because people said it was good — how was it?
식당이 맛있다고 해서 기대했는데 어땠어요?
B: Far from being good, it was too salty and the portions were too small, so I was disappointed.
맛있기는커녕 너무 짜고 양도 너무 적어서 실망했어요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct 'let alone / far from' phrase.
쉬기는커녕 오히려 더 피곤해졌어요.
용돈이 없어서 밥도 못 사 먹어요.