を顧みず
Regardless of
Use を顧みず（をかえりみず） to describe someone taking action while intentionally ignoring a significant risk (like danger) or a serious responsibility (like family or health). It is a formal, literary pattern.
How It Works
を顧みず is a formal grammar point typically found in written reports, novels, and news. It attaches directly to nouns.
1. Usage Nuances:
- Heroic/Positive: Disregarding one's own safety or life to achieve a noble goal. (e.g., 危険を顧みず - disregarding danger).
- Negative/Selfish: Neglecting duties, health, or advice. (e.g., 家庭を顧みず - neglecting one's family).
2. Morphology:
It is the ず-form (classical negative) of 顧みる. You may also see 〜も顧みず, where the particle も adds emphasis, suggesting the subject didn't even consider the factor mentioned.
3. Formal Register:
This is not used in casual conversation. In daily speech, people would use 〜を気にしないで or 〜を無視して depending on the context.
Examples (4)
- 彼は自らの危険を顧みず、溺れている子供を助けた。
Disregarding his own danger, he saved the drowning child.
Word by Word: He [topic] own danger [object] without-regarding, drowning child [object] saved.
This is a classic 'heroic' usage where the subject ignores personal risk for a greater good.
- 彼女は健康を顧みず、昼夜を問わず働き続けた。
She continued to work day and night without regard for her health.
Word by Word: She [topic] health [object] without-regarding, day-and-night [object] regardless-of worked-continued.
Here, it shows a disregard for personal well-being. Note the use of を問わず later in the sentence for a different type of 'regardless'.
- 彼は家庭を顧みず、仕事ばかりしている。
He does nothing but work, neglecting his family.
Word by Word: He [topic] family [object] without-regarding, work only doing-is.
This is a negative usage, implying the subject is failing in his responsibilities toward his family.
- 周囲の反対も顧みず、彼は新しい事業を始めた。
Without regard even for the opposition of those around him, he started a new business.
Word by Word: Surroundings' opposition even without-regarding, he new business [object] started.
The use of 'も' emphasizes that he didn't even stop to consider the warnings or advice of others.
Common Mistakes
Confusing the Kanji for 'kaerimiru'.
過去を省みず行動する。危険を顧みず行動する。While both are read as 'kaerimiru', 省みる means to reflect on one's past mistakes or conduct (self-reflection). 顧みる means to look back at or consider external factors/risks, which is the one used in this grammar pattern.
Using it for neutral categories.
年齢を顧みず、誰でも参加できます。年齢を問わず、誰でも参加できます。を顧みず implies a choice to ignore a risk or duty. For neutral categories like age or gender where no 'risk' is involved, use を問わず instead.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The pattern 'を顧みず' (regardless of/without weighing) is a formal expression consisting of the object marker 'を' and the negative continuative form of the verb '顧みる' (to look back/consider). To understand it, learners need to be familiar with the object marker 'を', the negative 'ず' form (similar to 'ないで' or 'ずに'), and how verbs function in formal written Japanese.
Related Patterns
- を問わずRegardless of
Both mean 'regardless of,' but を問わず is used for neutral categories like age or nationality, whereas を顧みず involves ignoring a risk or duty.
Level 3 - 〜に関わらずRegardless of
〜に関わらず is a general 'regardless of' indicating that factor A does not affect B, while を顧みず focuses on the subject's psychological state of ignoring something important.
Level 4 - をものともせずUndaunted by
をものともせず is used when someone overcomes a physical obstacle with strength, while を顧みず focuses on the lack of consideration for the risk itself.
Level 4 - ないでWithout Doing
ないで is the casual equivalent for 'without doing,' whereas を顧みず is strictly formal and literary.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice を顧みず in Bubblegum
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