States that a factor has no bearing on the outcome — the result is the same no matter what that factor is. Typically takes nouns representing binary or scalar conditions: 年齢 (age), 性別 (gender), 国籍 (nationality), 経験 (experience), 成否 (success or failure). The particle に marks the irrelevant factor. Often used in formal announcements, regulations, and policies to declare non-discrimination or universal applicability. Slightly more formal than にかかわらず. The verb かかわる means 'to be related/involved,' so にかかわりなく literally means 'without any relation to.' The factor is treated as completely irrelevant — not just overridden but truly inconsequential.

The most versatile 'regardless' pattern. Two main uses: (1) With a single noun — 年齢にかかわらず 'regardless of age' (similar to にかかわりなく but slightly less formal, more common); (2) With VかVないか — 来るか来ないかにかかわらず 'regardless of whether (someone) comes or not.' This verb-phrase construction sets up a binary alternative (do X or don't do X) and says the outcome is the same either way. More common in everyday language than にかかわりなく. Also can express 'in spite of' when attached to a noun describing adverse conditions: 悪天候にかかわらず 'despite the bad weather.' The pattern にもかかわらず (with も) emphasizes the contrast more strongly — 'in spite of' rather than just 'regardless.'

Derived from the verb 問う (to ask/question), this pattern literally means 'without even asking about X.' The factor is so irrelevant that it doesn't even warrant being asked. Commonly used with paired nouns expressing opposites or ranges: 男女を問わず (regardless of gender), 昼夜を問わず (day or night), 老若を問わず (young or old), 有無を問わず (whether or not one has it). Also used with single nouns: 経験を問わず (experience irrelevant), 理由を問わず (whatever the reason). The は variant (〜は問わず) is slightly contrastive — 'as for X, we don't ask.' Mostly used in formal or written contexts like job ads, regulations, and public announcements. More formal and narrower in use than にかかわらず — を問わず cannot take verb phrases.

Expresses that someone acts without caring about a factor that would normally restrain behavior. Derived from 構う (to care/mind), literally 'without minding X.' The factor is typically something socially inhibiting: 人目もかまわず (without caring about others' eyes), 周囲の迷惑もかまわず (heedless of the trouble to others), 危険もかまわず (without minding the danger). The actor ignores social norms, conventions, or risks that would usually cause restraint. Often carries a negative judgment — the speaker views the actor as improperly dismissive of reasonable concerns. Distinct from をよそに: もかまわず emphasizes active disregarding of a restraining factor; をよそに emphasizes the contrasting situation between what the actor ignores and what others are doing.

A topic-management pattern that acknowledges a subject exists but explicitly sets it aside to focus the discussion elsewhere. The structure is: 'X はともかく、Y' — 'Setting aside X (for now), Y (is more important/relevant).' X is the deferred topic; Y is what the speaker wants to address now. Often used to deprioritize less important details to get to the main point, or to concede a point before making a different argument. The として is optional and adds a more formal tone. Commonly used with evaluative pairs: 見た目はともかく味は良い (appearance aside, the taste is good), 結果はともかく努力は認める (results aside, the effort is acknowledged). Distinct from はさておき: はともかく is more about deprioritizing; はさておき is more about explicitly deferring for later.

Derived from さて (well then / now then) + 置く (to place/put), literally 'well then, putting X aside.' A topic-management pattern that defers X to address Y as the immediate focus. The structure is: 'X はさておき、Y' — 'Leaving X aside, let me address Y.' X is temporarily shelved; Y is the current priority. Often used in meetings, presentations, and conversations to maintain focus: 冗談はさておき、本題に入ろう (jokes aside, let's get to the main topic). Unlike はともかく (which deprioritizes X), はさておき implies X may be returned to later — the deferral is procedural, not dismissive. Also used in formal written contexts as a transition marker. Distinct from はともかく: はさておき is more about procedural deferral; はともかく is more about evaluative deprioritization.

An ultra-formal N1 pattern meaning 'regardless of the specifics/circumstances of X.' いかん (如何) is a formal word meaning 'circumstances / particulars / how things are,' and よらず is the negative continuative of よる (依る = to depend on). So the whole phrase literally means 'without depending on the particulars of X.' The variant いかんにかかわらず uses the more common かかわらず (regardless) postposition. Used almost exclusively in legal, regulatory, and highly formal administrative writing. Tends to involve legal or procedural conditions: 理由のいかんによらず (regardless of the reason), 審査の結果のいかんにかかわらず (regardless of the outcome of the review). Not used in everyday conversation — overuse would sound bureaucratic. Contrast with にかかわらず: いかんによらず is reserved for the most formal registers.

Expresses that someone faces a formidable difficulty or obstacle without being deterred — literally 'not treating X as a thing (worth worrying about).' The noun marked by を is typically a serious challenge: 困難 (difficulty), 反対 (opposition), 危険 (danger), 悪条件 (adverse conditions). The actor is courageous or determined, facing the obstacle with resolve. The pattern carries a positive, admiring tone — praising the person's bravery or perseverance. Often used in narrative descriptions of heroic or determined actions. The implied subject is usually a person or group of people, and the predicate is an action verb describing what they do despite the obstacle. Distinct from をよそに: をものともせず is about bravery against a direct obstacle; をよそに is about indifference to a surrounding situation.

Expresses that someone acts with indifference to something that would normally concern them, often while others in the same situation feel or act differently. よそ means 'elsewhere / outside / another place,' so the phrase literally means 'treating X as if it's someone else's business.' The noun is typically a widespread sentiment or situation: 心配 (worry), 不安 (anxiety), 期待 (expectations), 喧騒 (hustle and bustle). A key nuance: をよそに always implies a contrast — the actor's indifference stands against what others in the same context are experiencing. For example: 親の心配をよそに遊び回る (the child plays around while the parent worries — the contrast is between the child's indifference and the parent's concern). Distinct from もかまわず: をよそに emphasizes the contrast between two simultaneous situations; もかまわず emphasizes the actor's active disregard of a restraining factor.

An N1 pattern that concedes a possible exception to make the general case stronger. Structure: 'X はいざしらず、Y (は当然/一般的だ)' — 'I don't know about X (which is extreme/unusual), but Y (is naturally the case).' X is typically an extreme, hypothetical, or outdated case whose status the speaker claims not to know; Y is the ordinary, current, or expected situation. By conceding that the extreme case X might be different, the speaker strengthens the claim about Y. Example: 昔はいざしらず、今は誰でもスマホを持っている (I don't know about the old days, but nowadays everyone has a smartphone). Often used to dismiss an irrelevant counterexample or to mark a historical shift. ならいざしらず is a variant: 'if it were X, I wouldn't know, but...'