aside from; whether or not~ (は別として) – Japanese Grammar は別として (wa betsu toshite)

Q: What JLPT level is は別として?

JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Q: How do you use は別として in a sentence?

Attach は別として to the appropriate verb or noun form. Aside from; whether or not~

Q: Is は別として formal or casual Japanese?

は別として can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

は別として

N3 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

wa betsu toshite

aside from; whether or not~

として toshite たとたん ta totan にとって ni totte てはじめて te hajimete ずつ zutsu なかなか nakanaka なぜなら nazenara 切る kiru から〜にかけて kara~ni kakete ように you ni ことはない koto wa nai によると /によれば ni yoru to/ni yoreba といい / たらいい to ii / tara ii て済む te sumu せいで sei de 一体 ittai を中心に o chuushin ni っけ kke ながらも nagara mo ずに zuni として toshite たとたん ta totan にとって ni totte てはじめて te hajimete ずつ zutsu なかなか nakanaka なぜなら nazenara 切る kiru から〜にかけて kara~ni kakete ように you ni ことはない koto wa nai によると /によれば ni yoru to/ni yoreba といい / たらいい to ii / tara ii て済む te sumu せいで sei de 一体 ittai を中心に o chuushin ni っけ kke ながらも nagara mo ずに zuni

🃏 Flashcard

は別として

wa betsu toshite

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aside from; whether or not~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N3

Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Reading wa betsu toshite

Post ID 50975

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

aside from; whether or not~

📖 How to use it

Sets aside a topic or condition to focus on the main point, often meaning 'aside from' or 'regardless of'.

Attaches to Attaches to the noun directly, or to the plain form of a verb/adjective (dictionary form, ない-form, た-form) or noun + かどうか. For な-adjectives, attach to the stem + かどうか or use the noun form.

This pattern is used when you want to put something to the side—either because it's not the main point, or because you want to say that the result is the same whether that thing is true or not. It often translates as 'aside from' or 'whether or not'.

When attached to a noun like それは別として, it means 'apart from that'. When attached to a verb or a noun plus かどうか, it means 'whether or not' something is the case. For example, 行くかどうかは別として means 'whether or not we go aside'—the main point is something else.

You can also use it to set aside a minor issue to focus on the bigger picture, like 'jokes aside' or 'putting that aside'. It's a common conversational pattern, though it can also appear in writing.

値段は別として、このレストランの味は最高だ。

Nedan wa betsu to shite, kono resutoran no aji wa saikou da.

Aside from the price, this restaurant's food is excellent.

行くかどうかは別として、パーティーの準備はしよう。

Iku ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, paatii no junbi wa shiyou.

Whether we go or not aside, let's prepare for the party.

好きか嫌いかは別として、彼はいい先生だ。

Suki ka kirai ka wa betsu to shite, kare wa ii sensei da.

Whether you like him or not, he is a good teacher.

Not はともかくは別として sets aside a topic as a side point, while はともかく means 'not to mention' or 'let alone', often implying that the thing mentioned is even more extreme. For example, 彼は別として、みんな来た means 'apart from him, everyone came', but 彼はともかく、みんな来た would be odd because ともかく expects a comparison of degree.

🎯 Quick Quiz

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は別として

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat は別として three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using は別として. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns

← Previous

上に

as well; not only… but also

はもちろん

not to mention; not only; but also~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern は別として mean? ▼

Aside from; whether or not~

What JLPT level is は別として? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use は別として in a sentence? ▼

Attach は別として (wa betsu toshite) 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 は別として formal or casual Japanese? ▼

は別として is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember は別として 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.