Grammar Info
N2 Lesson 10: 6/20

は兎(と)も角(かく)
setting aside, apart from

Structure
Noun + + ともかく(として)
Details
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使用域 一般
Information
はともかく is an expression which makes use of the adverbial-particle は, and the adverb 兎(と)も角(かく) meaning ‘to set aside’, or ‘at any rate’. This structure will be used when the speaker wants to change the topic from (A) to (B), or mention (B) as being something additional on top of (A).
はともかく is primarily seen following nouns in their dictionary forms. In many cases, this will be when (A) is something that the speaker thinks is not worth considering, or not worth making an issue out of when (B) is more important.
  • この料理(りょうり)の見(み)た目(め)はともかく、味(あじ)はとてもいい。
    Apart from the appearance of this dish, it is very delicious.
  • 家賃(やちん)が高(たか)いか安(やす)いかはともかく、東京(とうきょう)駅(えき)の近(ちか)くに住(す)みたい。
    Setting aside whether the rent is expensive or cheap, I want to live near Tokyo station.
  • 給料(きゅうりょう)はともかく、やりがいのある仕事(しごと)がしたい。
    Setting aside the pay, I want a worthwhile job.
Fun-fact - The adverb 兎(と)も角(かく) is thought to have come from the Buddhist expression 兎角亀毛(とかくきもう), meaning ‘horns on rabbits, fur on turtles’, referring to things that do not exist. Although this particular meaning is not widely accepted as being strongly related to the modern meaning of 兎(と)も角(かく), some relation can be drawn between it and English phrases such as ‘(A) is neither here nor there’ in reference to something that is non-existent, or of little importance.
  • 美人(びじん)か美人(びじん)じゃないかはともかく、優(やさ)しくて料理(りょうり)が上手(じょうず)な人(ひと)と結婚(けっこん)をしたい。
    I want to marry someone who is kind and a good cook, whether she is beautiful or not is neither here nor there.
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このスマホの形(かたち)はともかく、性能(せいのう)は一線(いっせん)級(きゅう)だと思(おも)ってる。
Apart from the shape of this smartphone, I think its performance is top-notch.
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日本語(にほんご)能力(のうりょく)試験(しけん)に合格(ごうかく)したかはともかく、過去(かこ)半年(はんとし)間(かん)にたくさんのことを学(まな)んだ。
Setting aside whether I passed the JLPT or not, I have learned a lot over the last six months.
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冗談(じょうだん)はともかく、そろそろビジネスの話(はなし)だ。
All jokes aside, let's get down to business.
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