anyhow; anyway; regardless (はともかく) – Japanese Grammar はともかく (wa tomokaku)

Q: What JLPT level is はともかく?

JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Q: How do you use はともかく in a sentence?

Attach はともかく to the appropriate verb or noun form. Anyhow; anyway; regardless

Q: Is はともかく formal or casual Japanese?

はともかく is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

はともかく

N2 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

wa tomokaku

anyhow; anyway; regardless

だけのことはある dake no koto wa aru に関わる ni kakawaru 限り kagiri ねばならない neba naranai にしろ～にしろ ni shiro~ni shiro だけあって dake atte あげく ageku のももっともだ no mo motto mo da 反面 hanmen ばかり bakari というものではない to iu mono dewa nai に向かって ni mukatte なくて済む nakute sumu にて nite 以外 igai て以来 te irai か～ないかのうちに ka~nai ka no uchi ni っこない kkonai に限る ni kagiru ては～ては tewa~tewa だけのことはある dake no koto wa aru に関わる ni kakawaru 限り kagiri ねばならない neba naranai にしろ～にしろ ni shiro~ni shiro だけあって dake atte あげく ageku のももっともだ no mo motto mo da 反面 hanmen ばかり bakari というものではない to iu mono dewa nai に向かって ni mukatte なくて済む nakute sumu にて nite 以外 igai て以来 te irai か～ないかのうちに ka~nai ka no uchi ni っこない kkonai に限る ni kagiru ては～ては tewa~tewa

🃏 Flashcard

はともかく

wa tomokaku

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anyhow; anyway; regardless

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N2

Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Reading wa tomokaku

Post ID 51177

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

anyhow; anyway; regardless

📖 How to use it

Sets aside one topic to focus on something else, meaning 'leaving X aside' or 'regardless of X'.

Attaches to Attaches to nouns, noun phrases, or clauses ending in plain forms (dictionary form, past tense, etc.) followed by はともかく. For な-adjectives, use the stem without だ.

Use はともかく when you want to say 'whatever about X, let's talk about Y' or 'X is one thing, but Y is the real point'. It sets aside something that might be true or important, but not the main concern right now. The focus shifts to what follows.

It often appears in spoken and written Japanese to concede a point ('that may be so') before moving to the main argument. It can also suggest that the thing set aside is not worth discussing in detail, or that it's obvious. For example, you might say 'the price is one thing, but the quality is what matters'.

Be careful: はともかく is not the same as はさておき (which is more formal) or はもちろん (which means 'not to mention'). It's a common N2 pattern, used in everyday conversation and business contexts, but it has a slightly logical, argumentative tone.

レストランの味はともかく、値段は手頃だった。

Resutoran no aji wa tomokaku, nedan wa tegoro datta.

The taste of the restaurant aside, the price was reasonable.

彼の意見はともかく、まずは事実を確認しよう。

Kare no iken wa tomokaku, mazu wa jijitsu o kakunin shiyou.

Regardless of his opinion, let's first check the facts.

試験の結果はともかく、よく頑張ったと思う。

Shiken no kekka wa tomokaku, yoku ganbatta to omou.

The exam result aside, I think you did your best.

Not はもちろんはもちろん means 'not to mention' and includes something as a matter of course, while はともかく sets it aside as not the main point. With はもちろん, the following statement is even more true; with はともかく, the following statement is the real issue.

Register Neutral to slightly formal, used in both spoken and written Japanese, but common in discussions and explanations.

🎯 Quick Quiz

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はともかく

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat はともかく three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using はともかく. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns

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はもとより

also; let alone; from the beginning

わずかに

slightly; only; barely; narrowly~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern はともかく mean? ▼

Anyhow; anyway; regardless

What JLPT level is はともかく? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use はともかく in a sentence? ▼

Attach はともかく (wa tomokaku) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is はともかく formal or casual Japanese? ▼

はともかく is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember はともかく long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.