Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 3: 14/23

を問(と)わずRegardless of, Whether or not, No matter, With or without

Structure

Noun + を問(と)わず(5)
Noun (A) + 、(1) + Noun (B) + を問(と)わず(5)
A(2) + か + B(2) + か + を問(と)わず(5)
A(3) + (Antonym) A(3) + を問(と)わず(5)
A(2) + かどうか(4) + を問(と)わず(5)
A(2) + A［ない］(2) + を問(と)わず(5)

(1) ・、と、や
(2) Noun、 ［な］Adjective、 ［い］Adjective、 Verb
(3) ［い］Adjective、［な］Adjective
(4) か否(いな)か
(5) を問(と)わない。

Details

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    Formal

About を問わず

を問(と)わず is a pattern which makes use of the special-class う-Verb 問(と)う 'to inquire' and the literary auxiliary verb ず, which connects with verbs in the same way, and carries the same meaning as ない. While the literal meaning of this grammar structure is 'without questioning (A), (B)', it is used more as a formal way to express 'regardless of (A), (B)', 'whether (A) or not, (B)', or 'with or without (A)', (B)'.

This structure is seen almost exclusively after nouns, but can also follow structures like か, or かどうか that are modifying adjectives. を will mark the 'question' which is 'not being asked'.

Occasionally, は will replace を at the beginning of 問わず. This puts further emphasis on contrast, and slightly strengthens the phrase overall.

Caution

Although を問(と)わず may be thought of as similar to 'regardless', there are actually situations where the nuance is closer to 'in any case for (A), (B)'. This is particularly true when (A) is being expressed as a scope. Let's compare を問(と)わず to に関(かか)わらず to see the difference.

Related

Examples

--:--

    どんな役(やく)かは問(と)わず、主役(しゅやく)であればね。

    Regardless of the role, if it is a leading role (it doesn't matter). (no matter)

    私(わたし)は彼女(かのじょ)と結婚(けっこん)したい。手段(しゅだん)を問(と)わない。

    I want to marry her! No matter what. (regardless・whether or not)

    買(か)う買(か)わないを問(と)わず、商品(しょうひん)を試(ため)しに来(き)てください。

    (Regardless of) whether you will buy it or not, please come and try the product.

    好(す)き嫌(きら)いを問(と)わず探(さが)せば、仕事(しごと)は見(み)つかります。

    Regardless of your likes and dislikes, if you look, you will find a job.

    上手(うま)い下手(へた)を問(と)わず、習字(しゅうじ)の練習(れんしゅう)は続(つづ)けてください。

    Whether you are good at it or bad at it, please continue to practice your penmanship (calligraphy). (regardless of)

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を問わず – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

  • Pushindawood

    Pushindawood

    regardless of
    whether or not
    no matter
    with or without

    Structure

    • Noun + を問わず
    • Noun +・/、/と/や + Noun2 + を問わず + Phrase
    • AかBか + を問わず + Phrase
    • C + C[antonym] + を問わず + Phrase
    • A + かどうか/か否か + を問わず + Phrase
    • A + A[ない] + を問わず + Phrase
    • Phrase + Noun +・/、/と/や + Noun2 + を問わない
    • Phrase + AかBか+ を問わない
    • Phrase + C + C[antonym] + を問わない
    • Phrase + A + かどうか/か否か+ を問わない
    • Phrase + A + A[ない] + を問わない
    • A・B = (Noun、 なAdj、 いAdj、Verb)
    • C = (いAdj、なAdj)

    硬

    [Literal translation: ‘without asking (about)...

  • Sidgr

    Sidgr

    Can this:

    [を can be replaced with は when expressing contrast or for emphasis]

    be added to the top level structure at some place.

  • he77kat

    he77kat

    This may be slightly off-topic, but one of the example sentences for this grammar item is: " とりあえず説明は聞いてもらいたい", and the translation is “I would like you to listen to my explanation.”

    Is this an error? Or does “聞いてもらいたい” imply you want someone else to do the listening, as opposed to being the person who wants to listen?

  • Sidgr

    Sidgr

    It is that particular grammar:
    てもらう

  • he77kat

    he77kat

    Correct, I knew it was that grammar but I guess I didn’t know the nuance of “to get someone to do”. In that way it makes sense. I was thinking of it more as “I would like to hear (receive) the explanation”, not “I would like YOU to listen to the explanation”.

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @he77kat !

    The translation for this sentence is correct!

    A more literal translation for this sentence would be ’ Whether or not you sign a contract, for the time being, I would like you to do the listening while I explain it to you.’

    For the translation ‘I would like to hear the explanation’ to work, the Japanese sentence would have to be tweaked to something like 説明をしてもらいたい or 説明をしてほしい.

    I hope this clears it up!

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