Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
~を問わず (〜wo towazu)

~を問わず (〜wo towazu)

Short explanation:

Regardless of; irrespective of.

Formation:

Noun1 + ~を問わず + Noun2

Examples:

このイベントは、年齢を問わず、誰でも参加できます。
Kono ibento wa, nenrei wo towazu, daredemo sanka dekimasu.
This event is open to everyone, regardless of age.
このスーパーは、日曜日を問わず、毎日開いています。
Kono suupaa wa, nichiyoubi wo towazu, mainichi aiteimasu.
This supermarket is open every day, regardless of Sundays.
彼女は、暑さ寒さを問わず、毎朝散歩をしています。
Kanojo wa, atsusa samusa wo towazu, maiasa sanpo wo shiteimasu.
She goes for a walk every morning, regardless of the heat or cold.
社長は、国籍を問わず、すべての社員に平等に接しています。
Shachou wa, kokuseki wo towazu, subete no shain ni byoudou ni sesshiteimasu.
The president treats all employees equally, regardless of nationality.

Long explanation:

The ~を問わず grammar point is used to express the meaning 'regardless of' or 'irrespective of' when discussing two or more items or conditions. It indicates that what is stated applies to all items or conditions mentioned, without making any distinction.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: ~を問わず (〜wo towazu)

Japanese Grammar Point: ~を問わず (〜wo towazu)

~を問わず (〜wo towazu)

1. Introduction

~を問わず (〜wo towazu) is a Japanese grammar point used to express "regardless of," "irrespective of," or "no matter." It indicates that a particular condition or factor does not affect the outcome or applicability of a situation.


2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

  • English Equivalents: "Regardless of...", "Irrespective of...", "No matter...", "Without regard to..."

Structure

The grammar point is formed by attaching を問わず to a noun.

Noun + を問わず

Formation Diagram

Noun を問わず
性別 を問わず
経験の有無 を問わず
年齢 を問わず

Usage

  • General Use: Indicates that the action or state that follows applies equally, regardless of the preceding noun.
  • Formal Context: Commonly used in formal writing, announcements, advertisements, and official statements.

3. Comparative Analysis

~に関わらず (〜ni kakawarazu)

  • Meaning: "Regardless of...", similar to ~を問わず.
  • Usage Difference:
    • ~を問わず is often used with oppositional pairs (e.g., 有無, 男女) or a range of categories.
    • ~に関わらず can be used with verbs and adjectives, not just nouns. Example:
  • ~を問わず: 国籍を問わず応募できます。
    "You can apply regardless of nationality."
  • ~に関わらず: 天候に関わらず大会は開催されます。
    "The tournament will take place regardless of the weather."

4. Examples in Context

Example Sentences

  1. Formal/Written Context
    • Japanese: このイベントは年齢を問わず参加できます。
    • English: "This event is open to participants regardless of age."
  2. Informal/Spoken Context
    • Japanese: 彼は時間を問わず電話してくる。
    • English: "He calls me no matter the time."
  3. Workplace Announcement
    • Japanese: 経験の有無を問わず、やる気のある方を募集します。
    • English: "We are recruiting motivated individuals regardless of experience."
  4. Advertisement
    • Japanese: 性別を問わず、どなたでもご利用いただけます。
    • English: "Available for use by anyone, regardless of gender."
  5. Academic Context
    • Japanese: この奨学金は専攻分野を問わず申請できます。
    • English: "This scholarship is open to applicants regardless of their field of study."

5. Cultural Notes

Politeness and Formality

  • Formal Expression: ~を問わず is considered formal and is frequently used in official communications, advertisements, and formal statements.
  • Not Common in Casual Speech: In everyday conversation, simpler expressions might be used.

Idiomatic Expressions

  • 時間帯を問わず: "At any time," often used in services that are available 24/7.
    • Example: サポートは時間帯を問わずご利用いただけます。
      "Support is available at any time."

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes

  1. Incorrect Attachment
    • Mistake: 問わず used with verbs or adjectives.
      • Wrong: 行くを問わず
      • Correct: 行くかどうかを問わず
  2. Using in Casual Conversation
    • Overusing ~を問わず in informal settings where it may sound too stiff or formal.

Tips

  • Remember it attaches to nouns: Only use ~を問わず after a noun.
  • Think of Oppositional Pairs: It's commonly used with words like 有無 (existence or non-existence), 男女 (men and women), 内外 (inside and outside).

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • ~を問わず means "regardless of" and is used to indicate that something is applicable no matter the condition stated.
  • It is a formal expression and primarily used in written language.
  • Attach ~を問わず directly to a noun.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. Form a sentence using ~を問わず with the noun "国籍" (nationality).
    • Answer: 国籍を問わず、誰でも参加できます。
      "Anyone can participate regardless of nationality."
  2. Is ~を問わず suitable for casual conversation?
    • Answer: No, it is generally too formal for casual conversation.
  3. Choose the correct usage of ~を問わず: a) 彼は理由を問わず遅刻した。
    b) 理由を問わず、彼は遅刻した。
    • Answer: b) 理由を問わず、彼は遅刻した。
      "He was late regardless of the reason."

Feel free to revisit the examples and notes to reinforce your understanding of ~を問わず. Practice creating your own sentences to become more familiar with its usage!

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