Definition

Conjunction: - All the more, let alone, not to mention: Used to introduce a stronger or more extreme point that logically follows from a previous statement, often to emphasize impossibility or increased degree. It functions as a logical intensifier in an argument.

Usage Examples

• In a sentence:
  • Anh ấy không thể giải bài toán đơn giản, phương chi bài toán khó này. (He cannot solve a simple problem, let alone this difficult one.)
  • Tôi chưa từng đến Hà Nội, phương chi là Sài Gòn. (I have never been to Hanoi, not to mention Saigon.)
  • Người lớn còn thấy mệt, phương chi là trẻ con. (Even adults feel tired, all the more so for children.)

Advanced Usage

• Logical Emphasis in Argumentation: "Phương chi" is used in formal or literary contexts to build a persuasive argument by moving from a lesser point to a greater one. It implies "if X is true, then Y is certainly true."
  • Việc bảo vệ môi trường ở thành phố đã khó, phương chi ở vùng sâu vùng xa. (Protecting the environment in the city is already difficult, so it's even harder in remote areas.)

Variants and Related Words

• Huống chi: A direct synonym with identical meaning and usage.
  • Huống chi đây lại là lần đầu tiên anh ấy làm việc đó. (Moreover, this is the first time he has done that work.)
• Nói chi đến / Chưa nói đến: Less formal phrases meaning "not to mention."
• Huống hồ: A less common variant with the same meaning.

Synonyms

• Let alone: Used after a negative statement to emphasize unlikelihood.
• Not to mention: Introduces an additional, often more significant point.
• All the more so: Emphasizes that a following point is even truer.
• Much less: Used to reinforce a negative statement (e.g., I don't have time to read, much less write).

Notes on Meaning

• Logical Connector: "Phương chi" always connects two clauses. The first clause establishes a fact or premise (often with a negative or challenging connotation), and the second clause, introduced by "phương chi," presents a more extreme or conclusive case.
• Formal Register: This term is more common in written Vietnamese, formal speech, and proverbial expressions than in casual conversation.

1. All the more