Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
‘Setting aside…’, ‘Apart from…’, ‘Regardless of…’
🎯 Primary Function
To exclude a certain topic or condition from the current discussion to focus on a different aspect.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Verb (dictionary form)] + かどうかは別として / [Noun] + は別として
[い-Adjective] + かどうかは別として / [い-Adjective] + のは別として
[な-Adjective] + かどうかは別として / [な-Adjective] + なのは別として
[Verb-ない form] + かどうかは別として
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Commonly used in business to isolate variables or prioritize tasks.
Informal Situations
Used among friends to set aside jokes or minor details.
Written Language
Used in essays or reports to narrow the scope of an argument.
Spoken Language
Frequent in debates or when clarifying one’s opinion.
💡 Common Applications
Excluding specific factors
Used to focus on the quality of a plan while ignoring the cost for a moment.
Example: 費用は別として、このプランが一番いい。
Expressing ‘Whether or not’
Used when the possibility of success is not the main point of the action.
Example: できるかどうかは別として、やってみます。
Changing the topic from humor to serious
Used to pivot the conversation from a light-hearted tone to a serious one.
Example: 冗談は別として、本題に入りましょう。
Frequency
High in both spoken and written Japanese.
Difficulty
JLPT N3 (Intermediate)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
費用は別として、時間は十分にある。
Furigana: ひようはべつとして、じかんはじゅうぶんにある。
Romaji: Hiyou wa betsu to shite, jikan wa juubun ni aru.
English: Cost aside, we have plenty of time.
Example #2
味は別として、この料理の見た目は素晴らしい。
Furigana: あじはべつとして、このりょうりのみためはすばらしい。
Romaji: Aji wa betsu to shite, kono ryouri no mitame wa subarashii.
English: Setting aside the taste, the appearance of this dish is wonderful.
Example #3
冗談は別として、真剣に話をしましょう。
Furigana: じょうだんはべつとして、しんけんにはなしをしましょう。
Romaji: Jouda wa betsu to shite, shinken ni hanashi o shimashou.
English: Joking aside, let’s have a serious talk.
Example #4
彼は英語は別として、他の科目の成績は良い。
Furigana: かれはえいごはべつとして、ほかのかもくのせいせきはよい。
Romaji: Kare wa eigo wa betsu to shite, hoka no kamoku no seiseki wa yoi.
English: Setting aside English, his grades in other subjects are good.
Example #5
できるかどうかは別として、まずは挑戦してみることが大切だ。
Furigana: できるかどうかはべつとして、まずはちょうせんしてみることがたいせつだ。
Romaji: Dekiru ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, mazu wa chousen shite miru koto ga taisetsu da.
English: Whether you can do it or not is one thing, but the important thing is to try first.
Example #6
好き嫌いは別として、健康のために野菜を食べなさい。
Furigana: すききらいはべつとして、けんこうのためにやさいをたべなさい。
Romaji: Sukikirai wa betsu to shite, kenkou no tame ni yasai o tabenasai.
English: Likes and dislikes aside, eat your vegetables for your health.
Example #7
買うかどうかは別として、一度見に行ってみよう。
Furigana: かうかどうかはべつとして、いちどみにいってみよう。
Romaji: Kau ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, ichido mi ni itte miyou.
English: Whether we buy it or not is another matter, let’s go take a look at it once.
Example #8
成功するかどうかは別として、努力に意味がある。
Furigana: せいこうするかどうかはべつとして、どりょくにいみがある。
Romaji: Seikou suru ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, doryoku ni imi ga aru.
English: Regardless of whether you succeed or not, there is meaning in the effort.
Example #9
内容は別として、彼の話し方はとても丁寧だ。
Furigana: ないようはべつとして、かれのはなしかたはとてもていねいだ。
Romaji: Naiyou wa betsu to shite, kare no hanashikata wa totemo teinei da.
English: Setting aside the content, his way of speaking is very polite.
Example #10
間に合うかどうかは別として、急いで準備しよう。
Furigana: まにあうかどうかはべつとして、いそいでじゅんびしよう。
Romaji: Maniau ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, isoide junbi shiyou.
English: Whether we will be in time or not is aside, let’s hurry and prepare.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
The use of ‘ka dou ka’
Often used with ‘ka dou ka’ to emphasize that the result is secondary to the current action.
Example: 勝てるかどうかは別として、全力で戦う。
Clear separation of topics
It clearly separates the ‘exception’ (taste) from the ‘main point’ (health benefits).
Example: 味は別として、この料理は体に良い。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 費用を別として (Hiyou o betsu to shite)
✅ 費用は別として (Hiyou wa betsu to shite)
The particle ‘wa’ is essential here to mark the topic being set aside.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to Formal. It is polite enough for work but natural enough for daily life.
Social Situations: Used when you want to show that you are being objective by acknowledging an exception before stating your main point.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese. No significant regional variation.
🔍 Subtle Differences
～は別として vs ～はともかく (wa tomokaku)
‘Betsu to shite’ is more logical and implies the two things are literally separate matters. ‘Tomokaku’ focuses more on the fact that the first thing is not the priority right now.
When to use: Use ‘betsu to shite’ for more formal or logical distinctions.
📝 Conjugation Notes
When using verbs or adjectives, it is almost always followed by ‘ka dou ka’ (whether or not). Nouns can be used directly with ‘wa betsu to shite’.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure a small pause after ‘betsu to shite’ to emphasize the transition to the main clause.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Betsu’ (別) which means ‘different’ or ‘separate’. You are literally saying ‘As for [X], it is a separate thing (from what I am about to say).’
Other Grammar
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