JLPT N2 Shinkanzen Grammar Lesson 11: ～を問わず・～にかかわらず (Regardless of... / Irrespective of...)

～を問わず・～にかかわらず (Regardless of... / Irrespective of...)

JLPT N2
Shinkanzen N2 • 5 key grammar patterns
Point 1N2_L11_G1

1. ～を問わず (Regardless of / Without regard to...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun (N) + を問とわず

Meaning: Not calling into question, not requiring, or demanding a certain aspect. (It is the same regardless).
✓ Often accompanies words implying a wide range or degree (such as 年齢 - age, 国籍 - nationality, 天候 - weather...) and words indicating opposites (such as 男女 - men and women, 内外 - inside and outside, 有無 - existence or non-existence).

Example Sentences (7)
このドッグショーには種類しゅるいを問とわず、どんな犬いぬでも参加さんかできます。
Regardless of the breed, any dog can participate in this dog show.
このスポーツクラブは年齢ねんれいを問とわず誰だれでも入はいれます。
Anyone can join this sports club regardless of age.
季節きせつを問とわず、この山やまに登のぼる人ひとは多おおい。
Regardless of the season, there are many people who climb this mountain.
学歴がくれき、経験けいけんを問とわず、やる気きがある社員しゃいんを募集ぼしゅうします。
We are recruiting motivated employees regardless of their educational background or experience.
このカフェは昼夜ちゅうやを問とわず賑にぎわっている。
This cafe is bustling regardless of whether it's day or night.
このクレジットカードは国内こくない、国外こくがいを問とわず、いろいろな場所ばしょで使つかえる。
This credit card can be used in various places regardless of whether you are domestic or overseas.
このマラソン大会たいかいには、性別せいべつ、年齢ねんれいを問とわず、だれでも参加さんかできます。
Anyone can participate in this marathon, regardless of gender or age.
Point 2N2_L11_G2

2. ～にかかわりなく / ～にかかわらず (Regardless of / Irrespective of...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun (N) + にかかわりなく / にかかわらず
Interrogative word + か + にかかわりなく / にかかわらず

Meaning: Irrespective of that aspect; whatever the first clause is, the second clause remains unchanged (the same).
✓ Used with words implying varying degrees or sizes (such as 距離 - distance, 金額 - amount of money, 大きさ - size...).
✓ Can also be used with contrasting pairs (like going/not going, many/not many), or with interrogative words followed by 〜か.

Example Sentences (7)
天候てんこうにかかわらず、明日山登あしたやまのぼりに行いく。
I will go mountain climbing tomorrow regardless of the weather.
よさこいは年齢ねんれいや性別せいべつにかかわらず誰だれでも楽たのしめる踊おどりです。
Yosakoi is a dance that anyone can enjoy, regardless of age or gender.
この路線ろせんバスの料金りょうきんは、乗のった距離きょりにかかわりなく一律いちりつ200円えんです。
The fare for this route bus is a flat 200 yen, regardless of the distance traveled.
理由りゆうが何なにであるかにかかわりなく、一度納入いちどのうにゅうした入学金にゅうがくきんはお返かえしできません。
Regardless of the reason, the admission fee cannot be refunded once it has been paid.
国籍こくせきにかかわらず、みんなを歓迎かんげいします。
We welcome everyone, regardless of nationality.
振ふり込こみ手数料てすうりょうは、送金金額そうきんきんがくにかかわらず無料むりょうです。
Transfer fees are free regardless of the remittance amount.
使つかう、使つかわないにかかわらず、会場かいじょうには一応いちおうマイクが準備じゅんびしてあります。
Regardless of whether you use it or not, a microphone has been prepared at the venue just in case.
Point 3N2_L11_G3

3. ～もかまわず (Without caring about / Disregarding...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun N / Plain form + のもかまわず
* Na-adjective だ -> な / Noun N だ -> である

Meaning: Ignoring or not caring about situation 1, and continuing with action 2 regardless.
✓ Derived from the verb 構う (かまう), which means to mind or care about.
✓ The second clause expresses an unusual or unexpected action (it does not express the speaker's volition or desire).

Example Sentences (7)
人目ひとめもかまわず、道みちで大泣おおなきしている人ひとを見みかけた。
I saw someone crying loudly on the street without caring about being seen by others.
彼かれは値段ねだんもかまわず、好すきな料理りょうりをどんどん注文ちゅうもんした。
He kept ordering his favorite dishes one after another, completely ignoring the prices.
彼女かのじょは人目ひとめもかまわず子供こどものように泣ないている。
She is crying like a child without caring about the public eye.
彼かれは自分じぶんの命いのちもかまわず子供こどもを救すくうため、火ひの中なかに飛とび込こんだ。
He jumped into the fire to save the child without regard for his own life.
彼かれは雨あめにぬれるのもかまわず歩あるき続つづけた。
He kept walking without caring about getting wet in the rain.
母ははは人ひとを待またせているのもかまわず、まだ鏡かがみの前まえで化粧けしょうしている。
My mother doesn't care that she's keeping people waiting and is still putting on makeup in front of the mirror.
父ちちが病気びょうきで入院中にゅういんちゅうであるのもかまわず、兄あには毎日まいにちバイクで遊あそび回まわっている。
My older brother rides around on his motorcycle every day, completely disregarding the fact that our father is hospitalized with an illness.
Point 4N2_L11_G4

4. ～はともかく（として） (Leaving aside / Let alone...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun N (+ particle) + はともかく（として）
Plain form + のはともかく（として）
* Na-adjective だ -> な / Noun N だ -> な

Meaning: Setting aside A for now, to talk about B. (Because B is the more important thing to emphasize).
✓ Compared to the latter clause, the part preceding "はともかく" can be temporarily ignored because it is not as important.
✓ Often used with question words followed by 〜か (indicating doubt/question).

Example Sentences (6)
この店みせは、店みせの雰囲気ふんいきはともかく、料理りょうりの味あじは最高さいこうだ。
Setting aside the atmosphere of the restaurant, the taste of the food is the best.
あの俳優はいゆうは顔かおはともかく演技えんぎが素晴すばらしい。
Leaving aside his looks, that actor's acting is fantastic.
漢字かんじを書かくことはともかくとして読よむことは苦手にがてだ。
Leaving aside writing kanji, I am even bad at reading it.
外そとではともかく、家いえの中なかでたばこを吸すうのはやめて。
I'm not talking about outside, but please stop smoking inside the house.
受験じゅけんするかどうかはともかく、願書がんしょだけはもらっておこう。
Leaving aside whether we'll actually take the exam or not, let's at least get the application form.
アラビア語ごを習ならいたい。読よむのはともかくとして、簡単かんたんな会話かいわはできるようになりたい。
I want to learn Arabic. Leaving aside reading it, I want to become able to have simple conversations.
Point 5N2_L11_G5

5. ～はさておき (Setting aside... for now)

Sentence Pattern
Noun N (+ particle) + はさておき

Meaning: Since there is a more important issue to prioritize, let's set aside this topic for now.
✓ The second clause often contains the most important matter or the main topic.
✓ Frequently combined with question words followed by 〜か.
✓ The latter clause is given higher priority than the preceding one, representing the fundamental thing that needs to be addressed first.

Example Sentences (6)
この小説しょうせつ、内容ないようはさておき、タイトルは面白おもしろいと思おもう。
Setting aside the content of this novel, I think the title is interesting.
飲のみ会かいをするなら、細こまかいことはさておき、まずは場所ばしょと時間じかんを決きめなくては。
If we are having a drinking party, setting aside the minor details, we first need to decide on the place and time.
値段ねだんはさておき、そのスーツはあなたには似合にあっていない。
Leaving the price aside, that suit doesn't suit you at all.
大学進学だいがくしんがくはさておき、今いまの彼女かのじょには健康けんこうの回復かいふくは第一だいいちだ。
Setting aside going to college, her top priority right now is recovering her health.
どんな家いえがいいかはさておき、どんな地域ちいきに引ひっ越こしたいかを考かんがえよう。
Setting aside what kind of house is good, let's first think about what kind of area we want to move to.
冗談じょうだんはさておき、次回じかいのミーティングのテーマを決きめておきたいと思おもいます。
Jokes aside, I would like to decide on the theme for the next meeting.
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