〜はさておき
Leaving Aside
Use 〜はさておき when you want to say 'leaving [A] aside for now' or 'joking aside' to shift the conversation to the main point [B].
How It Works
The expression 〜はさておき is derived from the verb 置く（おく - to put/place） and the transition word さて (well/now). It is a staple of professional and adult Japanese for managing the flow of a conversation.
Key Characteristics:
- Topic Shifting: It is used to set aside the current topic being discussed to prioritize a more important or immediate issue.
- Attachment: It attaches directly to nouns or interrogative clauses ending in 〜か (e.g., 誰が...か, どこで...か) or 〜かどうか.
- Variations: You may also see 〜はさておいて, which has the same meaning. The phrase それはさておき is frequently used at the start of a sentence to mean 'That aside...'
- Nuance: Unlike 〜はともかく, which suggests the first topic is unimportant or not being considered, 〜はさておき simply suggests it should be dealt with later or is being temporarily put on hold.
Common Set Phrases:
- 冗談はさておき（じょうだんはさておき）: 'Joking aside' or 'All jokes aside.'
- 何はさておき（なにはさておき）: 'First and foremost' or 'Before anything else.' This is a very common idiomatic expression used to emphasize that the following point is the most urgent or important matter, regardless of other circumstances.
Examples (6)
- 冗談はさておき、本題に入りましょう。
Joking aside, let's get to the main point.
Word by Word: Jokes (topic) set aside, main subject (into) let's enter.
This is the most common usage, used to transition from small talk to serious business.
- 何はさておき、まずは健康が第一です。
Above all else, health comes first.
Word by Word: What (topic) set aside, first health (subject) number one is.
This uses the set phrase 何はさておき to mean 'first and foremost' or 'before anything else,' indicating that the following point is the absolute top priority.
- 結果はさておき、最後までやり遂げたことが素晴らしい。
Setting the results aside, the fact that you saw it through to the end is wonderful.
Word by Word: Results (topic) set aside, until the end accomplished thing (subject) is wonderful.
Here, the speaker acknowledges the results exist but wants to prioritize praising the effort.
- デザインがいいかどうかはさておき、使いやすさは抜群だ。
Whether the design is good or not is one thing, but the ease of use is outstanding.
Word by Word: Design is good or not (topic) set aside, ease of use (topic) outstanding is.
By using 〜か or 〜かどうか, the speaker sets aside the subjective quality of the design to focus on functionality.
- 誰が来るかはさておいて、まずは準備を始めよう。
Leaving aside who is coming, let's start the preparations first.
Word by Word: Who (subject) comes (topic) set aside, first preparation (object) let's start.
This example uses the variation 〜はさておいて and shows how it can follow an interrogative clause ending in 〜か.
- それはさておき、次の会議の日程を決めませんか。
That aside, shall we decide on the schedule for the next meeting?
Word by Word: That (topic) set aside, next meeting's schedule (object) won't we decide?
This uses the standalone transition phrase それはさておき to shift the conversation to a new priority.
Common Mistakes
Attaching the pattern directly to a verb without a nominalizer or question marker.
食べるはさておき、飲み物を注文しましょう。食べるかどうかはさておき、飲み物を注文しましょう。〜はさておき must follow a noun or a clause ending in 〜か. If you want to refer to an action, you must use a structure like 〜かどうか (whether or not one does something).
Confusing it with a general 'By the way' to introduce unrelated topics.
（話の途中で）はさておき、昨日のニュース見ましたか？ところで、昨日のニュース見ましたか？〜はさておき is specifically used to set aside the current topic of conversation to focus on something more urgent. To introduce a completely new, unrelated digression, use ところで.
How It Connects
Learn This First
〜はさておき is a compound expression used to set aside a topic to focus on something more important. It requires knowledge of the topic marker 'は' and the auxiliary verb 'ておく' (to leave/put aside) to understand its literal and functional meaning.
Related Patterns
- 〜はともかくSetting Aside
Similar in meaning ('regardless of'), but 〜はともかく emphasizes that the first point is not the current concern or its quality is irrelevant, whereas 〜はさておき emphasizes the order of priority.
Level 4 - 〜は別としてApart from
Means 'aside from' or 'setting aside as an exception.' It is used to exclude a specific item from a general statement.
Level 4 - ところでBy the Way
The opposite function; while 〜はさておき ends a digression to focus on the main point, ところで starts a digression or changes the subject entirely.
Level 3 - かどうかWhether or Not
Often used with 〜はさておき to set aside the question of 'whether or not' something is true/good.
Level 2 - を問わずRegardless of
Means 'regardless of,' but is more about a condition being irrelevant to the outcome (e.g., 'regardless of age'), rather than shifting the focus of a conversation.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice 〜はさておき in Bubblegum
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