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

  • Register

    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

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'.
  • 宗教(しゅうきょう)や国籍(こくせき)を問(と)わず、このイベントには誰(だれ)でも参加(さんか)できます。
    Everyone is welcome to attend this event, regardless of religion or nationality.
  • パソコンの上級者(じょうきゅうしゃ)か初心者(しょしんしゃ)かを問(と)わず、初(はじ)めてこのサービスをお使(つか)いになられる方(かた)には初心者(しょしんしゃ)コースから始(はじ)めてもらいます。
    Whether you are an advanced computer user or a beginner, we ask first-time users of this service to start with the beginner course.
  • このマンションを買(か)うかどうかを問(と)わず、この物件(ぶっけん)を押(お)さえたい場合(ばあい)は手付金(てつけきん)を払(はら)ってください。
    If you want to hold on to this property, whether you buy this apartment or not, you must pay a deposit.
Occasionally, は will replace を at the beginning of 問わず. This puts further emphasis on contrast, and slightly strengthens the phrase overall.
  • どのブランドかは問(と)わず、とにかく新(あたら)しい靴(くつ)が欲(ほ)しいです。
    I just want a new pair of shoes, regardless of which brand.
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.
  • 彼(かれ)は昼夜(ちゅうや)を問(と)わず、ずっと働(はたら)いている。
    Whether it is day or night, he is always working.
  • 彼(かれ)は昼夜(ちゅうや)に関(かか)わらず、ずっと働(はたら)いている。
    Regardless of day or night, he is always working.

Examples

  • 学歴(がくれき)や経験(けいけん)を問(と)わず、やる気(き)のある応募(おうぼ)者(しゃ)を雇(やと)う！

    We are hiring motivated applicants with or without experience or academic background!

  • 裕福(ゆうふく)な家庭(かてい)であるか否(いな)かを問(と)わず、日本(にっぽん)では初等(しょとう)・中等(ちゅうとう)教育(きょういく)は無料(むりょう)だ！

    (Regardless of) whether the family is wealthy or not, primary and secondary education is free in Japan!

  • 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.

  • このアプリケーションは、管理(かんり)者(しゃ)権限(けんげん)の有無(うむ)を問(と)わず誰(だれ)でも使(つか)うことができる。

    This application can be used by anyone, (regardless of) whether they have administrator's rights 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.

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を問わず – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

  • 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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