Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

Far from being helpful with 〜どころか

Grammar Explanation: Completely opposite to with 〜どころか

Manga panel from 藤原くんはだいたい正しい showing example of Far from being helpful with 〜どころか.
藤原くんはだいたい正しい » Volume 1 » Page 140

Fujiwara catches Hitsuji writing inspirational messages with his signature on wristbands. Hitsuji explains that female classmates requested she get Fujiwara to sign them, but she couldn’t find the right time to ask him, so she took on the task herself.

Fujiwara vetoes the idea, but when he sees Hitsuji apologize to their classmates, admitting that she wrote them herself, Fujiwara tells the classmates to pretend as if he wrote them.

After the wristbands are handed out, Hitsuji thanks Fujiwara and the council.

ヒツジ:
「また　みんなに助(たす)けてもらって…」
“Again, everyone came to my rescue...”
「役(やく)に立(た)つどころか迷惑(めいわく)かけて…」
“Far from being helpful, I caused you trouble...”

Key Points

  1. 役(やく)に立(た)つどころか rejects the expected positive

    • Hitsuji expected or hoped to be useful.

    • 〜どころか flips that idea: far from helping, she caused trouble.

  2. The actual result follows after the pattern

    • 迷惑(めいわく)かけて gives the real negative outcome.