-을/를 막론하고
Regardless of, No Matter
-ㄹ 막론하고 is a formal expression used to say 'regardless of [Noun]' or 'no matter [Noun]'. It indicates that the following statement applies universally, without considering the specified noun.
How It Works
The structure -ㄹ 막론하고 is a combination of a noun, the object particle -을/를, and the verb 막론하다 (to not discuss/question), conjugated into the -고 form. It literally means 'not even discussing [Noun], and...'. This emphasizes that the noun is not a factor to be considered.
Formation:
- Noun ending in a vowel + -를 막론하고
나이 (age) → 나이를 막론하고 (regardless of age)
누구 (who) → 누구를 막론하고 (regardless of who) - Noun ending in a consonant + -을 막론하고
국적 (nationality) → 국적을 막론하고 (regardless of nationality)
성별 (gender) → 성별을 막론하고 (regardless of gender)
This pattern is frequently used with set phrases that encompass a whole group:
- 남녀노소(를) 막론하고: Regardless of gender or age (lit. men, women, old, young)
- 동서고금(을) 막론하고: Regardless of time or place (lit. east, west, old, modern)
- 지위 고하(를) 막론하고: Regardless of rank (lit. position high, low)
While grammatically correct, the object particle -을/를 is sometimes omitted in these set phrases, especially in headlines or titles.
Compared to similar expressions like -든지 or '상관없이', -ㄹ 막론하고 carries a much more formal, emphatic, and often literary tone. It asserts that there are absolutely no exceptions.
Examples (4)
- 남녀노소를 막론하고 모든 국민은 법 앞에 평등합니다.
Regardless of gender or age, all citizens are equal before the law.
Word by Word: Men-women-old-young regardless of all citizens law in front of are equal.
- 이유를 막론하고 폭력은 절대 정당화될 수 없습니다.
Regardless of the reason, violence can never be justified.
Word by Word: Reason regardless of violence absolutely cannot be justified.
- 그 가수는 국적을 막론하고 전 세계적으로 사랑받고 있다.
That singer is loved all over the world, regardless of nationality.
Word by Word: That singer nationality regardless of worldwide is receiving love.
- 지위 고하를 막론하고 모든 직원은 회사 규정을 준수해야 합니다.
Regardless of rank, high or low, all employees must abide by company regulations.
Word by Word: Position high-low regardless of all employees company regulations must comply with.
Common Mistakes
Using -ㄹ 막론하고 in casual, everyday conversation.
Different Meaning메뉴를 막론하고 아무거나 시키자. (Let's order anything, regardless of the menu.)Better메뉴 상관없이 아무거나 시키자.-ㄹ 막론하고 is a very formal and written-style expression. Using it in a casual setting like ordering food with friends sounds unnatural and overly dramatic. In such cases, '-(와/과) 상관없이' (irrespective of) is a much more natural choice.
Attaching it directly to verbs or adjectives.
Not Quite비싸다를 막론하고 저는 그걸 꼭 사야겠어요.Better가격을 막론하고 저는 그걸 꼭 사야겠어요.-ㄹ 막론하고 must be attached to a noun. You cannot attach it to a verb or adjective stem like '비싸다' (to be expensive). You must use a related noun, such as '가격' (price), to convey the intended meaning.
Learn This First
To express 'regardless of/no matter', you need modifier forms and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -든지No Matter What/who/how, Etc.
Both can mean 'no matter' (e.g., 누구든지 vs. 누구를 막론하고). However, -든지 is more versatile, used in both formal and informal speech, and often implies choice or indifference among options. -ㄹ 막론하고 is strictly formal and emphasizes universal application without exception.
- -에도 불구하고Despite, In Spite of
This means 'despite' or 'in spite of'. It's used when an action happens even with a known obstacle. In contrast, -ㄹ 막론하고 means the noun is not considered an obstacle at all; it's simply irrelevant. For example, '궂은 날씨에도 불구하고' (despite the bad weather) vs. '날씨를 막론하고' (regardless of the weather).
- -에 따라(서)According to, Depending on
This pattern means 'according to' or 'depending on', which is the opposite of -ㄹ 막론하고. It shows that the outcome changes based on the noun (e.g., '결과에 따라서' - depending on the result). -ㄹ 막론하고 states that the outcome remains the same, ignoring the noun.