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

てならない te naranai と考えられる to kangaerareru 少なくとも sukunaku tomo あげく ageku のももっともだ no mo motto mo da だって datte に関わらず ni kakawarazu に限らず ni kagirazu 抜きにして nuki ni shite か～ないかのうちに ka~nai ka no uchi ni たまえ tamae どうやら dou yara ばかりに bakari ni ないことには～ない nai koto niwa~nai ばかりだ bakari da おまけに omake ni 限り kagiri どうせ douse て当然だ te touzen da かのように ka no you ni てならない te naranai と考えられる to kangaerareru 少なくとも sukunaku tomo あげく ageku のももっともだ no mo motto mo da だって datte に関わらず ni kakawarazu に限らず ni kagirazu 抜きにして nuki ni shite か～ないかのうちに ka~nai ka no uchi ni たまえ tamae どうやら dou yara ばかりに bakari ni ないことには～ない nai koto niwa~nai ばかりだ bakari da おまけに omake ni 限り kagiri どうせ douse て当然だ te touzen da かのように ka no you ni

🃏 Flashcard

はともかく

wa tomokaku

Tap to reveal usage

anyhow; anyway; regardless

Tap to test your recall · +10 XP

📊 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

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

はともかく

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

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

🃏

Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

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

⏰

Spaced Review

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

🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns

← Previous

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.