Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 9: 11/23

は別(べつ)として

Apart from, (Setting) aside, Whether or, Except for, Save for

Structure

Noun + は別(べつ)として + Phrase
A(1) + （か）+ B(1) + （か）+ は別(べつ)として + Phrase
A(1) + （か）+ (Antonym) A(1) + (か）+ は別(べつ)として + Phrase
A(1) + かどうか(2) + は別(べつ)として + Phrase
A(1) + A［ない］(1) + は別(べつ)として + Phrase

(1) Noun, ［な］Adjective、［い］Adjective、Verb
(2) か、か否(いな)か

Details

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About は別として

は別(べつ)として is a set phrase with the meaning of 'setting aside (A)', 'except for (A)', or 'save for (A)'. This structure combines は, 別(べつ), a noun meaning 'difference', 'separation', or 'distinction', と, and the て-form of する. Due to this combination, the more literal meaning is 'going ahead with (A) as an exception', and just declares that (A) is something that is being completely disregarded before discussing the main point.

As は is simply marking the topic in the same way that it usually does, this phrase may be seen after a noun, or any other word that would usually be grouped with は. This frequently includes things like かどうか.

It is also fairly common to see the (A) word repeated in both its positive and negated form. This has the nuance of 'whether or not', in the same way as かどうか.

Despite this grammar structure being used to essentially remove (A) from what is being discussed, the primary reason for this is that (A) is usually an exception to some particular rule or constant that the speaker wants to highlight.

Caution

は別(べつ)として may occasionally be replaced by は別(べつ)にして, with little change in overall nuance. The use of と merely sounds more definitive, while に expresses that the speaker is intentionally separating (A).

  • 見(み)た目(め)は別(べつ)にして、あそこの料理(りょうり)はとても美味(おい)しい。
    Aside from the appearance, the food there is very good.

Examples

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    喰(く)われている餌食(えじき)自身(じしん)は別(べつ)として喰(く)っている捕食(ほしょく)動物(どうぶつ)は本当(ほんとう)に幸(しあわ)せだ。

    (Setting) aside the prey that is being eaten, the predator enjoying its meal is surely happy.

    速(はや)くか遅(おそ)くかは別(べつ)として適(てき)した靴(くつ)なしにコンクリートの歩道(ほどう)を走(はし)るのは危険(きけん)なこともある。

    Setting aside whether you are going fast or slow, it is dangerous to run on a concrete sidewalk without suitable shoes.

    プロジェクトに間(ま)に合(あ)うか間(ま)に合(あ)わないかは別(べつ)として問題(もんだい)解決(かいけつ)に集中(しゅうちゅう)しましょう。

    Setting aside whether it will be on time for the project or not, let's concentrate on solving the problem.

    ユーフォーの証人(しょうにん)：「信(しん)じるかどうかは別(べつ)として、私(わたし)は確(たし)かにユーフォーを見(み)たのです。」特別(とくべつ)代理人(だいりにん)マンハイム：「実(じつ)はね、奥(おく)さん、あなたが空(そら)で見(み)た閃光(せんこう)はユーフォーではなくて、沼地(ぬまち)ガスがヴィーナスの光(ひかり)を反射(はんしゃ)しただけなんですよ。」

    UFO witness: 'Setting aside whether or not you believe me, I am certain that I saw a UFO.' Special agent Mannheim: 'In all honesty ma'am, the flash you saw in the sky was not a UFO, but just swamp gas reflecting light from Venus.'

    考(かんが)えられる正当(せいとう)な理由(りゆう)の場合(ばあい)は別(べつ)として警察(けいさつ)は国民(こくみん)を調(しら)べることはできません。

    Apart from a particular case of probable cause, police cannot search citizens.

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      は別として – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

      • Hadros232232

        Hadros232232

        What is the difference between はともかく and はべつとして?

      • Fuga

        Fuga

        Hey @Hadros232232 !

        はともかくandは別として are basically the same expressions, but は別として has the nuance that the phrase or the word that comes before ‘is not a concern’ to the phrase that comes after it.

        For example:

        実験の結果の良し悪しはともかく結果を見たい。
        Setting aside whether the results of the experiment are good or bad, I want to see them.
        This sentence has the nuance of ‘Lets not think about whether the results of the experiment are good or bad, I want to see them’

        実験の結果の良し悪しは別として結果を見たい。
        Setting aside whether the results of the experiment are good or bad, I want to see them.
        This has a similar nuance to the sentence above, but has a stronger nuance that the results of the experiment is not important to them at the moment. ‘Whether the results of the experiment is good or bad does not matter right now, I just want to see the results.’

        We hope that this answers your question!<...

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