JLPT N1・N2 Grammar – Difference between “〜をものともせず” and “〜もかまわず”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜をものともせず” and “〜もかまわず”
2. AをものともせずB
3. AもかまわずB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment
Q: I don’t understand the difference between “〜をものともせず” and “〜もかまわず.”
A: These two phrases describe the behavior of the subject, but “〜をものともせず” is used to depict a brave and admirable figure, while “〜もかまわず” is used when someone acts without caring about anything.
AをものともせずB (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
Doing B without being defeated by A
[Rule]
[N] Noun＋をものともせず(に)
[Point]
“AをものともせずB” indicates that A is something that makes it difficult or impossible to perform the action described in B. It means that the person performing the action does so without being defeated by the difficulty of A.
[Examples]
大きな病気をものともせずに、彼女はオリンピックで金メダルをとりました。
Despite a serious illness, she won a gold medal at the Olympics.
ひどい雨や雷をものともせずに、自衛隊は救助に励んでいます。
Despite heavy rain and thunderstorms, the Self-Defense Forces are diligently conducting rescue operations.
80歳という年齢をものともせず、祖父は今でも毎日働いています。
Despite being 80 years old, my grandfather still works every day.
彼は危険をものともせず、溺れている子供を助けに川に飛び込みました。
He ignored the danger and jumped into the river to save the drowning child.
AもかまわずB (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
Doing B without caring about A
[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form＋の＋もかまわず
[A] い adjective＋の＋もかまわず
[Na] な adjectiveーな＋の＋もかまわず
な adjective＋である＋の＋もかまわず
[N] Noun＋である＋の＋もかまわず
[Point]
In “AもかまわずB,” A refers to something that people usually care about. It means that B is done without caring about A.
*There are also fixed expressions like these:
・所かまわず: without caring about the place
・誰彼かまわず: without caring about who the other person is
[Examples]
たくさんの人が見ているのもかまわず、高校生たちは大声で会話をしています。
Despite many people watching, the high school students are having a loud conversation.
時間が遅いのもかまわず、となりの家の人はカラオケをしています。
Despite the late hour, the neighbors are singing karaoke.
身なりもかまわず出かける人が信じられません。
I can’t believe there are people who go out without caring about their appearance.
不景気であるのもかまわず、姉はむだづかいばかりしています。
Despite the economic downturn, my sister keeps wasting money.
Let’s Compare
[AをものともせずB]
A refers to a certain difficulty, and B describes the act of strongly confronting that difficulty without being defeated. It is often used when the speaker wants to praise the bravery or strength of the person performing the action. This phrase describes the behavior of others and cannot be used to describe oneself.
[Examples]
大きな病気をものともせずに、彼はオリンピックに出ることを決めました。
Despite a serious illness, he decided to participate in the Olympics.
⇒ Despite the major difficulty of being ill, it describes the admirable act of participating in the Olympics.
ひどい嵐をものともせず、ダイバーは海へ行きました。
Despite the severe storm, the diver went into the sea.
⇒ It illustrates the act of going to the sea despite the severe storm conditions.
[AもかまわずB ]
A refers to something that people would normally pay attention to or care about, and B describes the act of doing something without caring about it. This phrase describes the behavior of others and cannot be used to describe oneself.
[Example]
たくさんの人が見ているのもかまわず、高校生たちは大声で会話をしています。
Despite many people watching, the high school students are having a loud conversation.
⇒ Normally, people would be concerned about being watched, but it describes the high school students talking loudly without caring about it.
Additionally, this phrase is often used idiomatically with words like “appearance” (身なり) and “public gaze” (人目).
[Examples]
父は身なりもかまわず高級なデパートへ行くので恥ずかしいです。
I feel embarrassed because my father goes to high-end department stores without caring about his appearance.
あの女の人は人目もかまわず電車の中で化粧をしています。
That woman is putting on makeup in the train without caring about others watching.
Summary
[AをものともせずB]
- It describes the act of bravely facing a certain difficulty without being defeated.
- It is often used when the speaker wants to praise the bravery or strength of the person performing the action.
- This phrase describes the behavior of others and is not used to describe oneself.
[AもかまわずB ]
- It describes the act of doing something without paying any attention to or caring about things that people would normally be concerned with.
- This phrase describes the behavior of others and is not used to describe oneself.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. をものともせず
山田さんは障害をものともせずマラソン大会で優勝しました。
Despite his disability, Mr. Yamada won the marathon.
*”をものともせず” is correct because it describes the strong act of winning despite the disability.
A. のもかまわず
弟は母に叱られたのもかまわずまたゲームばかりしています。
Despite being scolded by our mother, my brother keeps playing games.
*”もかまわず” is correct because it describes the act of not caring at all despite being scolded, which people would normally care about.
A. もかまわず
人目もかまわずコンビニの前でごはんを食べる人が多いです。
Many people eat their meals in front of convenience stores without caring about others watching.
*”もかまわず” is used here as an idiomatic expression meaning “without caring about public gaze.”
A. をものともせず
災害のときには危険をものともせず人々は助け合っています。
During disasters, people help each other despite the dangers.
*”をものともせず” is correct because it describes the act of helping each other despite the difficulty of the disaster.
