JLPT N2 Grammar – Difference between “〜にかかわらず” and “〜にもかかわらず”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜にかかわらず” and “〜にもかかわらず”
2. AにかかわらずB
3. AにもかかわらずB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment

Q: What’s the difference between “〜にかかわらず” and “〜にもかかわらず”?

A: Although they look similar, they follow different grammatical rules and are used in different contexts.
In particular, the presence or absence of “も” changes the meaning significantly, so it’s important to pay attention to their role and nuance within a sentence when choosing which one to use.

AにかかわらずB (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
Indicates that the same result or action occurs regardless of a certain condition or situation.
It carries the meaning of “whether A or not, it doesn’t matter.”

[Rule]
[N] Noun + にかかわらず
*Often used together with contrasting word pairs such as: presence/absence, high/low, more/less, day/night, etc.

[Examples]
天候てんこうにかかわらず、試合しあいは予定よていどおり行おこなわれます。
The match will take place as scheduled, regardless of the weather.

年齢ねんれいにかかわらず、このイベントには誰だれでも参加さんかできます。
Anyone can participate in this event, regardless of age.

経験けいけんの有無うむにかかわらず、ご応募おうぼいただけます。
You are welcome to apply, regardless of whether you have experience or not.

金額きんがくにかかわらず、ご寄付きふを歓迎かんげいします。
Donations are welcome, regardless of the amount.

AにもかかわらずB (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
Indicates that a result or action occurs even though a certain fact or situation exists.
It carries a concessive meaning similar to “even though” or “despite.”
This expression often conveys the speaker’s sense of surprise or something unexpected.

[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form + にもかかわらず
[A] い adjective + にもかかわらず
[Na] な adjective + である + にもかかわらず
[N] Noun + である + にもかかわらず

[Examples]
雨あめが降ふっているにもかかわらず、彼かれは傘かさをさしません。
Even though it’s raining, he doesn’t use an umbrella.

先輩せんぱいは忙いそがしいにもかかわらず、仕事しごとを手伝てつだってくれました。
Despite being busy, my senior helped me with the work.

このいすは組み立く　たてが面倒めんどうでもあるにもかかわらず、父ちちは作つくるつもりのようです。
Even though this chair is troublesome to assemble, my father seems intent on making it.

大雨おおあめであるにもかかわらず、イベントには多おおくの人ひとが集あつまりました。
Although it was pouring rain, a large number of people gathered for the event.

Let’s Compare

[AにかかわらずB]

This expression means that B occurs or holds true regardless of whether condition or situation A exists or not.
In other words, B is not affected by A and always applies.

[Examples]
時間じかんや曜日ようびにかかわらず、渋谷しぶやは人ひとが多おおいです。

Shibuya is crowded with people regardless of the time or day of the week.
⇒ This means Shibuya is always bustling, no matter what time or day you go.

このパーティーは国籍こくせきにかかわらず、楽たのしめます。

You can enjoy this party regardless of your nationality.
⇒ This shows that people from any country can enjoy the party.

Additionally, when used with contrasting word pairs such as “有無うむ (presence or absence),” “昼夜ちゅうや (day or night),” “高たかい・安やすい (expensive or cheap),” or “多おおい・少すくない (many or few),” this expression can show that B occurs or holds true regardless of which side of the contrast applies.

[Examples]

（求人きゅうじん広告こうこくで）経験けいけんの有無うむにかかわらず、ご応募おうぼいただけます。

(From a job advertisement) You are welcome to apply regardless of whether you have experience or not.
⇒ This means anyone can apply, regardless of their level of experience.

昼夜ちゅうやにかかわらず、救急きゅうきゅう病院びょういんは対応たいおうしています。

The emergency hospital is available at all times, day or night.
⇒ This indicates the emergency hospital operates 24 hours a day, regardless of whether it’s daytime or nighttime.

[A にもかかわらず B]

It expresses that although situation or fact A exists, a contradictory result B occurs.
This expression often conveys the speaker’s surprise, sense of the unexpected, or deviation from what was anticipated, and cannot be used for outcomes that are naturally expected or predictable from the situation.

[Examples]

〇 大雨おおあめであるにもかかわらず、イベントには多おおくの人ひとが集あつまりました。
Even though it was pouring rain, a large number of people gathered for the event.
⇒ This implies that, contrary to the expectation that fewer people would attend due to the rain, many people actually came.

× 晴はれであるにもかかわらず、イベントに大勢おおぜいの人ひとが集あつまりました。
⇒ Since it’s natural for many people to attend when the weather is sunny, “にもかかわらず” is inappropriate in this case.

太郎たろうさんはまだ学生がくせいであるにもかかわらず、起業きぎょうしたそうです。
Although Taro is still a student, it seems he started his own business.
⇒ Normally, students are not expected to start businesses, so this sentence expresses the unexpected nature or surprise of the situation—he went against the general assumption and actually started a company.

This expression can also be used not only to convey surprise or unexpectedness, but also to include feelings of dissatisfaction or criticism.

[Examples]

店みせには店員てんいんがたくさんいるにもかかわらず、誰だれも客きゃくに気きづきません。
Even though there are many staff members in the store, no one notices the customers.
⇒ This expresses dissatisfaction with the situation—since there are many employees, one would expect them to notice and assist customers, but they don’t.

後輩こうはいに注意ちゅういしたにもかかわらず、また同おなじ間違まちがいをしています。
Even though I warned my junior, they made the same mistake again.
⇒ This implies a sense of disappointment or frustration—since they were already warned, it would be natural to expect them not to repeat the same mistake, yet they did.

Summary

[AにかかわらずB]

• This structure means that B occurs regardless of whether condition or situation A is present or not.
• It can also be used with contrasting terms like “presence or absence,” “day or night,” or “more or less” to express that B happens in either case, without being affected by A.

[AにもかかわらずB]

• This expresses that even though situation or condition A exists, an unexpected result B occurs.
• It often reflects the speaker’s feelings of surprise, contradiction, dissatisfaction, or criticism. The key point is that the result B goes against what would normally be expected from situation A.

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.

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Similer Articles

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