Posted inN2 Grammar

JLPT N2 Grammar: を問わず (wo towazu) – Regardless Of, Without Distinction

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

regardless of; without distinction of; irrespective of

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate that a certain condition, situation, or rule applies universally to all cases, without being affected or limited by the preceding noun. It emphasizes impartiality and inclusiveness.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + を問わず

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Very common. Used in official announcements, regulations, business communication, and formal writing.

😊 Informal Situations

Rarely used. Sounds overly stiff and unnatural in casual conversation.

✍️ Written Language

Widely used. Appears frequently in news articles, legal documents, academic papers, and job advertisements.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in formal speeches, presentations, or announcements, but not in everyday conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Indicating universal applicability in terms of attributes.
Often used with nouns representing categories like age, gender, nationality, experience, academic background, etc., to state that something applies to everyone in that category.
Example: 経験の有無を問わず (regardless of presence or absence of experience)
Indicating universal applicability in terms of conditions/circumstances.
Used with nouns representing conditions like weather, time, place, etc., to state that something holds true under any of those conditions.
Example: 天候を問わず (regardless of the weather)
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📊
Frequency
Moderate to high in formal and written contexts; low in daily informal speech.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate-Advanced (N2). The concept is simple, but correct usage requires understanding its formal tone.
Example Sentences
この仕事は、経験の有無を問わず、誰でも応募できます。
Anyone can apply for this job, regardless of whether they have experience or not.
当ホテルは、年齢、国籍を問わず、全てのお客様を歓迎いたします。
This hotel welcomes all guests, regardless of age or nationality.
この施設は、昼夜を問わず、24時間利用可能です。
This facility is available 24 hours a day, regardless of day or night.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Formality and Impartiality
「を問わず」is highly formal and implies a strong sense of impartiality or universal application. It’s often used in official announcements, regulations, and public statements where a neutral and comprehensive stance is required.
Example: 応募資格は学歴を問わず、意欲のある方を募集します。(Application requirements: We are recruiting motivated individuals regardless of academic background.)
Common Nouns
It frequently follows nouns that represent opposing concepts or categories, like 有無 (presence/absence), 昼夜 (day/night), 老若男女 (men and women of all ages), 経験 (experience), 国籍 (nationality), 性別 (gender), 年齢 (age), 天候 (weather).
Example: 老若男女を問わず、多くの人がこのイベントに参加した。(Many people participated in this event, regardless of age or gender.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it in casual conversation.
✅ 「を問わず」is too formal for everyday informal speech.
In casual settings, simpler expressions or rephrasing are preferred. For example, instead of 「年齢を問わず、誰でもどうぞ」, one might say 「何歳でもいいよ」 (Any age is fine).
❌ Using it with inappropriate nouns or contexts where “regardless of” doesn’t make logical sense for a universal application.
✅ Ensure the noun represents a category or condition that can be universally disregarded for the statement to hold true.
It’s used when the preceding noun *doesn’t* affect the outcome or condition.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Very high; formal and objective.
Social Situations: Public announcements, rules, job advertisements, official documents, formal speeches. It conveys a sense of fairness and inclusivity.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations; standard formal Japanese.

🔍 Subtle Differences

を問わず vs. にかかわらず
Both mean “regardless of,” but 「にかかわらず」can be used with a wider range of words, including verbs and adjectives (in their plain forms), and often implies a stronger sense of “despite.” 「を問わず」is strictly for nouns and emphasizes impartiality/inclusivity.
When to use: Use 「を問わず」when you want to explicitly state that the preceding noun (often a category or pair of opposites) is *not* a factor. Use 「にかかわらず」when you want to say something happens “regardless of” or “despite” a particular condition or outcome.
を問わず vs. を問わない
「を問わない」is the plain negative form of the verb 「問う」 (to ask/question), meaning “doesn’t question/doesn’t care about.” While conceptually similar, 「を問わず」is a fixed grammatical expression that functions like a conjunction, leading into a broader statement, whereas 「を問わない」is a verb phrase that typically ends a clause or sentence.
When to use: 「を問わず」connects two clauses and signifies a universal application regardless of the first clause’s noun. 「を問わない」is a more direct statement about not caring about something.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

「を問わず」is a fixed grammatical expression. It always attaches to a noun and does not conjugate itself. The noun remains in its dictionary form.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounce とわず (towazu) smoothly. The emphasis is typically on the preceding noun and the clause that follows, as 「を問わず」acts as a connecting phrase.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 「問う (とう)」meaning “to ask” or “to question.” So 「問わず」literally means “without questioning” or “without asking about,” hence “without concern for” or “regardless of.” Visualize a sign that says “Everyone Welcome, No Questions Asked!”

Vocabulary List
問わず
towazu
regardless of, without distinction
経験
keiken
experience
有無
umu
presence or absence
応募
ōbo
application
歓迎
kangei
welcome
施設
shisetsu
facility
利用
usage, utilization
Kanji List
問
モン, と.う
question, ask
経験
ケイ, ケン
experience
有無
ユウ, ム
existence, non-existence
応募
オウ, ボ
apply, solicit
歓迎
カン, ゲイ
welcome
施設
シ, セツ
institution, facility
利用
リ, ヨウ
utilize, use
昼夜
チュウ, ヤ
day, night
性別
セイ, ベツ
sex, differentiate
積極的
セキ, キョク, テキ
positive, active
老若男女
ロウ, ニャク, ナン, ニョ
old, young, male, female
Practice Exercises
このボランティア活動は、（　　　）を問わず、参加者を募集しています。
A. 時間
B. 場所
C. 経験
D. 目的
当クラブは、（　　　）を問わず、ゴルフ好きなら誰でも歓迎します。
A. 道具
B. 性別
C. ルール
D. スコア
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