Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 2: 7/17

とも無（な）く
absentmindedly, mindlessly, unconsciously, without paying attention

・It can be also used with うちに、ところに and similar expressions

Structure
Verb［る］(A) + ともなく(1) + Verb［たら］(2)(A)

(1) ともなしに
(2) Verb + と
Structure Legend  
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
  • [ともなく(ともなしに) is used when something is not done on purpose or unconsciously, without really focusing on it/paying mind to it. Generally the verb is repeated a second time. ]
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山田（やまだ）さんと晩（ばん）御飯（ごはん）を食（た）べるともなく食（た）べていたら、急（きゅう）に彼（かれ）が告白（こくはく）してきて驚（おどろ）いた。
When I was absentmindedly eating dinner with Yamada-san, he suddenly confessed (his feelings for me) and it really surprised me.
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    • 勝者（しょうしゃ）の発表（はっぴょう）を聞（き）くともなく聞（き）いていたら、なんと私（わたし）の名前（なまえ）が挙（あ）がっていた。
    I listened absentmindedly to the announcements of the winners, when, to my disbelief, my name came up.
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    • 隣人（りんじん）の窓（まど）を見（み）るともなく見（み）ると、驚（おどろ）いたことに裸（はだか）の人（ひと）がいた。
    I looked at my neighbor's window without paying attention, and, to my surprise, there was a naked person.
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