〜はともかく
Setting Aside
Use 〜はともかく when you want to say 'Setting [A] aside for now...' or 'Regardless of [A]...' to focus on a more important point [B].
How It Works
The expression 〜はともかく (or the more formal 〜はともかくとして) is a staple of intermediate Japanese. It allows a speaker to acknowledge a potential issue or detail without letting it derail the main argument.
Key Characteristics:
- Focus Shift: It moves the listener's attention from a secondary detail (A) to the main point (B).
- Nuance: It often suggests that A is less important than B, or that A is a known flaw that the speaker is willing to overlook.
- Structure: It primarily attaches to nouns. To use it with verbs or adjectives, you must nominalize them using 〜の, 〜こと, 〜かどうか (whether or not), or [Question Word] + か.
Grammar Note: While similar to 'regardless,' it is more subjective than 〜を問わず. It reflects the speaker's personal choice to ignore one factor in favor of another.
Examples (4)
- デザインはともかく、この靴はとても履き心地がいい。
Setting the design aside, these shoes are very comfortable to wear.
Word by Word: Design (topic) aside, these shoes (topic) very wearing-feeling good.
The speaker acknowledges the design might not be great, but emphasizes the comfort.
- 勝てるかどうかはともかく、精一杯やってみよう。
Whether we can win or not aside, let's give it our all.
Word by Word: Can win whether-or-not (topic) aside, with all one's might let's try doing.
Here, the result (winning) is treated as secondary to the effort being put in.
- 今の仕事は、給料はともかくとして、やりがいがある。
Setting aside the salary, my current job is rewarding.
Word by Word: Current job (topic), salary (topic) aside, worth-doing exists.
The speaker uses the more formal '〜はともかくとして' to prioritize job satisfaction over pay.
- 味はともかく、見た目はとてもきれいな料理だ。
Setting aside the taste, the appearance of this dish is very beautiful.
Word by Word: Taste (topic) aside, appearance (topic) very beautiful dish is.
This implies the taste might not be good, but the visual presentation is excellent.
Common Mistakes
Attaching the pattern directly to a dictionary form verb without nominalization.
食べるはともかく、料理を作るのは好きだ。食べるのはともかく、料理を作るのは好きだ。〜はともかく must follow a noun. To use a verb or adjective, you must nominalize it using 〜の, 〜こと, or phrases like 〜かどうか (whether or not).
Confusing it with 'Not only... but also'.
彼は歌はともかく、ダンスも上手だ。彼は歌はもちろん、ダンスも上手だ。〜はともかく implies the first item is being ignored or is less important. If you want to say he is good at both, use 〜はもちろん.
How It Connects
Learn This First
〜はともかく (wa tomokaku) is used to set aside one issue or quality to focus on a more important one. To understand it, you need to be comfortable with the topic marker 'は' and how to structure sentences where one point is contrasted with or prioritized over another.
Related Patterns
- 〜はさておきLeaving Aside
Very similar, but '〜はさておき' is used more for changing the topic of conversation, whereas '〜はともかく' focuses on evaluating which factor is more important.
Level 4 - を問わずRegardless of
Both mean 'regardless of,' but '〜を問わず' is used for objective, universal rules (like 'regardless of age'), while '〜はともかく' is for subjective situations.
Level 3 - 〜ならいざしらずPerhaps...but
Used for extreme or hypothetical cases where the current situation is considered unacceptable, unlike the more neutral '〜はともかく'.
Level 5 - かどうかWhether or Not
Often used together with '〜はともかく' to nominalize a verb phrase into 'whether or not [verb] is the case'.
Level 2 - はもちろんNot to Mention
While '〜はともかく' sets something aside as less important, '〜はもちろん' emphasizes that the first item is definitely included/true.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice 〜はともかく in Bubblegum
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