noun / adverb HSK 4
Traditional 況
situation · condition · moreover · besides
Meaning
况 refers to a situation, state of affairs, or set of circumstances. As a standalone word it's somewhat literary, but it appears frequently in common compounds like 情况 (situation) and 状况 (condition). It also functions as a conjunction meaning 'moreover' or 'let alone' in classical or formal contexts.
Usage
Modern speakers rarely use 况 alone in conversation. It's most commonly encountered in set phrases like 情况, 状况, and 近况. The adverbial use 'moreover' appears in written or formal speech, often in patterns like 况且 (moreover) or 何况 (let alone, much less).
Examples
- 01他连中文都不会说，何况写中文文章。, .He can't even speak Chinese, let alone write Chinese articles.
- 02这种东西大人都不能吃，况小孩子呢？, ?Adults can't even eat this kind of thing, let alone small children?
Common collocations
- 何况let alone, much less
- 实况actual situation, live broadcast
Origin
The traditional form 況 combines the water radical 氵with 兄 (elder brother), originally depicting a comparison or analogy, which evolved to mean circumstances or conditions being compared.