尚且 shàngqiě even
(not) even; yet; still
How to remember 尚且: 尚 esteem + 且 moreover = even.
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How it is used
- Conjunction 'even… (let alone)' - sets up an a-fortiori argument: 大人尚且做不到，何况孩子 (dàrén shàngqiě zuò bú dào, hékuàng háizi) even adults can't do it, let alone children.
- Almost always paired downstream with 何况/更何况 (hékuàng, let alone); formal/written.
- Signals: if the stronger case already fails, the weaker one certainly does.