JLPT N1・N2 Grammar – The difference between “〜をものともせず” and “〜もかまわず”

Table of Contents

1. The 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. Comments

Q: I don’t understand the difference between “〜をものともせず” and “〜もかまわず”.

A: Both mean “to do B without caring about A”, but the nuance is different.
“〜をものともせず” describes a brave and positive attitude of taking action without being defeated by difficulties or danger.
“〜もかまわず” describes someone doing something without caring about things that people would normally care about. It can also include feelings of surprise, annoyance, or criticism.
Let’s take a closer look in this article.

AをものともせずB (JLPT N1)

[Meaning]
To do B without being defeated by A
To do B without being defeated by the difficulty of A

[Rule]　　
[N] Noun + をものともせず(に)

[Point]
・In “AをものともせずB”, A is something that makes it difficult to do B.
・It describes someone taking action without being defeated by a difficulty.
・It has a nuance of appreciating the person’s strength, courage, or toughness.
・Grammatically, it can be used for one’s own actions, but saying it about yourself can sound a little self-praising.

[Examples]　
大おおきな病気びょうきをものともせずに、彼女かのじょはオリンピックで金きんメダルをとりました。
Despite a serious illness, she won a gold medal at the Olympics.

ひどい雨あめや雷かみなりをものともせずに、自衛じえい隊たいは救助きゅうじょに励はげんでいます。
Despite heavy rain and thunderstorms, the Self-Defense Forces are diligently conducting rescue operations.

80歳さいという年齢ねんれいをものともせず、祖父そふは今いまでも毎日まいにち働はたらいています。
Despite being 80 years old, my grandfather still works every day.

彼かれは危険きけんをものともせず、溺おぼれている子供こどもを助たすけに川かわに飛び込と　こみました。
He jumped into the river to save the drowning child, undaunted by the danger.

多おおくの反対はんたいをものともせず、彼女かのじょは自分じぶんの会社かいしゃを立たち上あげました。

Despite strong opposition, she started her own company.

AもかまわずB (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
To do B without caring about A
To do B without caring about something that people would normally care about

[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 is something that people would normally care about or pay attention to.
・It means “to do B without caring about that”.
・Depending on the sentence, it can include the speaker’s feelings of surprise, annoyance, or criticism.

[Fixed Expressions]
所ところかまわず: Without caring where the place is
誰だれ彼かれかまわず: Without caring who the person is
人目ひとめもかまわず: Without caring that other people are watching
身みなりもかまわず: Without caring about one’s clothes or appearance

[Examples]　
たくさんの人ひとが見みているのもかまわず、高校こうこう生せいたちは大声おおごえで会話かいわをしています。
The high school students are talking loudly, without caring that many people are watching.

時間じかんが遅おそいのもかまわず、となりの家いえの人ひとはカラオケをしています。
The neighbors are singing karaoke, without caring that it is late.

父ちちは身みなりもかまわず出でかけるので、少すこし恥はずかしいです。
I feel a little embarrassed because my father goes out without caring about his appearance.

不ふ景気けいきであるのもかまわず、姉あねは無駄遣むだづかいばかりしています。

My older sister keeps wasting money, without caring about the economic downturn.

彼かれは雨あめに濡ぬれるのもかまわず、駅えきまで走はしっていきました。

He ran to the station, without caring that he was getting wet in the rain.

Let’s Compare

Even when using the same word “危険きけん“, the nuance changes.

[Examples]
彼かれは危険きけんをものともせず、子供こどもを助たすけに川かわへ飛び込と　こみました。

He jumped into the river to save the child, undaunted by the danger.
⇒ This describes a brave action, showing that he acted without being defeated by the danger.

彼かれは危険きけんもかまわず、立入たちいり禁止きんしの場所ばしょに入はいっていきました。

He entered the restricted area, without caring about the danger.
⇒ This describes someone acting without caring about the danger. It can give a sense of recklessness or a lack of common sense.

[AをものともせずB]

A is a difficulty, danger, obstacle, or something else that makes the action difficult.
B describes someone taking action without being defeated by that difficulty.
This expression is often used when the speaker appreciates the person’s courage, strength, or effort.

[Examples]
大おおきな病気びょうきをものともせずに、彼かれはオリンピックに出でることを決きめました。
Despite a serious illness, he decided to participate in the Olympics.
⇒ This describes his positive and strong attitude of aiming for the Olympics without being defeated by the serious difficulty of illness.

ひどい嵐あらしをものともせず、救助きゅうじょ隊たいは山やまへ向むかいました。
Despite the severe storm, the rescue team headed into the mountains.
⇒ This describes the rescue team’s brave action of heading out to help, without being defeated by the dangerous situation of the storm.

[AもかまわずB ]

A is something that people would normally care about or pay attention to.
B describes someone taking action without caring about it.
Depending on the sentence, it can include the speaker’s feelings of surprise, annoyance, or criticism.

[例れい]　
周まわりの人ひとが迷惑めいわくそうにしているのもかまわず、彼かれは電話でんわで大声おおごえで話はなし続つづけています。

He keeps talking loudly on the phone, without caring that people around him look annoyed.
⇒ Normally, people would care if those around them looked annoyed, but he keeps talking loudly on the phone without caring. This also includes the speaker’s feeling of annoyance.

あの女おんなの人ひとは人目ひとめもかまわず電車でんしゃの中なかで化粧けしょうをしています。
That woman is putting on makeup on the train, without caring about others watching.
⇒ This describes her putting on makeup on the train without caring that other people are watching. It has a slightly critical nuance.

Summary

[AをものともせずB]

• To do B without being defeated by a difficulty, danger, or obstacle.
• It expresses courage, strength, or toughness.
• It is often used when the speaker appreciates that action.
• When used about oneself, it can sound self-praising.

[AもかまわずB ]

• To do B without caring about something that people would normally care about.
• It is often used with words such as 人目ひとめ, 時間じかん, 場所ばしょ, and 身みなり.
• Depending on the sentence, it can have a nuance of surprise, annoyance, or criticism.
• It can also be used for one’s own actions, but it is an expression that objectively describes the action.

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.

---