を問わず

Regardless of

Level 3Sounds Like wotowazu

Used in formal contexts to state that a certain condition (like age, gender, or experience) does not affect the outcome. It literally means 'without asking' about that factor.

How It Works

The pattern を問わず（をとわず） comes from the classical negative form of the verb 問う（とう - to ask/question）. In modern Japanese, it functions as a formal conjunction meaning 'regardless of.'

Key Characteristics:

  • Formal Register: It is primarily used in written documents, job advertisements, and public announcements. It sounds too stiff for casual conversation.
  • Intentional Disregard: It implies that the speaker or organization is choosing not to make a distinction based on the mentioned noun.
  • Common Nouns: It frequently attaches to nouns like 年齢（ねんれい - age), 性別（せいべつ - gender), 国籍（こくせき - nationality), and 経験（けいけん - experience).
  • Opposite Pairs: It often follows pairs like 男女（だんじょ - men and women), 昼夜（ちゅうや - day and night), or 内外（ないがい - inside and outside).

While similar to 〜に関わらず, を問わず is specifically used for things that could be a question or a point of distinction but are being ignored by choice.

Examples (4)

  1. このイベントは、年齢を問わずどなたでも参加できます。

    Anyone can participate in this event, regardless of age.

    Word by Word: This event (topic), age (object) without asking, anyone even can participate.

    A classic use in a public announcement where 'age' is the category being ignored.

  2. 経験の有無を問わず、やる気のある方を募集しています。

    We are recruiting motivated individuals, regardless of whether they have experience or not.

    Word by Word: Experience's presence-or-absence (object) without asking, motivation-having person (object) are recruiting.

    Commonly seen in job advertisements. 有無 (うむ) means 'presence or absence' (whether one has it or not).

  3. この店は昼夜を問わず、いつも賑わっている。

    This shop is always busy, regardless of whether it is day or night.

    Word by Word: This shop (topic), day-and-night (object) without asking, always is bustling.

    Uses the opposite pair 昼夜 (ちゅうや) to show the condition applies at all times.

  4. 国籍を問わず、優秀な人材を採用したいと考えています。

    We want to hire talented people, regardless of their nationality.

    Word by Word: Nationality (object) without asking, excellent human-resources (object) want-to-employ that are thinking.

    Shows a formal policy of inclusivity regarding 'nationality'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using it for things outside of human control (like weather).

    天候を問わず、試合は行われます。
    天候に関わらず、試合は行われます。

    を問わず implies a choice to 'not ask' or 'not care.' Since humans cannot control the weather, it is more natural to use 〜に関わらず（にかかわらず）.

  • Using it in casual conversation.

    好き嫌いを問わず食べてね。
    好き嫌いに関係なく食べてね。

    を問わず is very formal. In daily life with friends, use 〜に関係なく（にかんけいなく） instead.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

を問わずLevel 3Regardless of

Learn This First

The pattern 'を問わず' (regardless of) is a formal expression used to indicate that something is not a factor or condition. It is built by taking the verb '問う' (to question/matter), marking the preceding noun with the object particle 'を', and using the classical negative 'ず' form to mean 'without questioning' or 'not mattering'.

Words in This Pattern

問わず問う