はともかく | Grammar

Structure

Noun + はともかく(として)
Noun A + はともかく + Noun B + は～
Question word clause + かはともかく
- e.g. いつかはともかく、だれかはともかく

Description

はともかく is used to set aside one thing in order to focus on or emphasize another. It expresses the idea of "leaving X aside" or "regardless of X" – the speaker acknowledges X but deliberately shifts attention to what follows as more important or relevant.

The basic pattern is Noun + はともかく, where the noun before はともかく is the thing being set aside.

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Setting the price aside, quality is what matters.

、。

Regardless of how it looks, it tastes good.

Setting aside one topic to focus on another

This is the most common usage – the speaker considers X less important or not worth discussing right now, and wants to draw attention to something else.

、。

Regardless of the result, what matters is that you tried.

、。

Whatever the reason, being late is being late.

AはともかくB – contrasting two items

Often はともかく is used to contrast two related items, where the speaker sets aside one and makes a judgment about the other.

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Setting kanji aside, I've come to understand grammar fairly well.

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Adults aside, it's too difficult for children.

AはともかくとしてB – a slightly more formal variant

Adding として after ともかく creates a slightly more formal or emphatic expression with the same meaning.

、。

Jokes aside, let's get to the main topic.

はともかく is similar to はさておき ("setting aside") and はどうあれ ("however X may be"), but はともかく is the most conversational and common of the three. It can also overlap with はともあれ ("be that as it may"), though はともあれ tends to be more literary.

Examples

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Setting the price aside, I liked the design first.

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Regardless of the past, let's think about what to do from now on.

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English aside, I can speak Japanese well.

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Taste aside, it's a beautiful-looking cake, isn't it?

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His personality aside, his work ability is high.

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Jokes aside, let's discuss this seriously.

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My own situation aside, I'm worried about my family.

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Regardless of the weather, preparations are already done.

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Children aside, it's embarrassing for adults to do something like this.

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Regardless of the result, I'm satisfied because I gave it my all.

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Money aside, I don't have time.

、。

Reading and writing Japanese aside, my conversation skills still have a long way to go.

References

はともかくBunpro