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〜をものともせず(に)

o mono tomo sezu (ni)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Meaning

in defiance of …; undaunted by …

〜をものともせず means "treating X as nothing": the subject faces a difficulty (opposition, bad weather, injury, danger) and presses on bravely. 物ともしない = "not regard as a problem". The sentence praises the subject's courage or strength.

Formal written Japanese: biographies, sports and news reports. It describes other people admiringly; it is not used for the speaker's own actions. The obstacle is real and serious (反対・悪天候・危険・障害・批判).

Formation

V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

  • N(obstacle) + をものともせず(に)、V
  • Typical N: 反対・悪天候・危険・けが・批判・逆境
  • The main clause: a brave or successful action

Visual diagram

  1. 選手たちはsubject (admired)
  2. 悪天候the obstacle
  3. をものともせずにtreating it as nothing
  4. 試合を続けたbrave action
The players kept playing, unfazed by the bad weather.

Natural examples

  1. 彼は周囲の反対をものともせず、起業した。

    かれはしゅういのはんたいをものともせず、きぎょうした。

    Undaunted by the opposition around him, he started a business.

    Undaunted by opposition, he started a business: admiration.

  2. 選手たちは悪天候をものともせずに、試合を続けた。

    せんしゅたちはあくてんこうをものともせずに、しあいをつづけた。

    The players kept playing, unfazed by the bad weather.

    Bad weather as the obstacle; に is optional.

  3. 彼女は障害をものともせず、世界大会で優勝した。

    かのじょはしょうがいをものともせず、せかいたいかいでゆうしょうした。

    In defiance of her disability, she won the world championship.

    Disability as the obstacle; the achievement is praised.

  4. 彼は周囲の批判をものともせず、自分の信念を貫いた。

    かれはしゅういのひはんをものともせず、じぶんのしんねんをつらぬいた。

    Unfazed by the criticism around him, he stuck to his convictions.

    批判 is a common obstacle.

  5. 救助隊は激しい雨をものともせずに、捜索を続けた。

    きゅうじょたいははげしいあめをものともせずに、そうさくをつづけた。

    The rescue team continued the search, undeterred by the heavy rain.

    Praise for a team.

Similar grammar and the difference

Common mistakes

  • ✗
    私は反対をものともせず、留学した。
    ✓
    私は反対を押し切って、留学した。
    Why
    The pattern praises others; using it about oneself sounds boastful.
  • ✗
    彼は親の心配をものともせず、遊び回った。
    ✓
    彼は親の心配をよそに、遊び回った。
    Why
    Playing around is not brave; indifference to others' worries is をよそに.
  • ✗
    雨ものともせず
    ✓
    雨をものともせず
    Why
    The particle を is required.

The obstacle must be something that would stop an ordinary person; the subject overcomes it. The tone is always admiring, which distinguishes it from をよそに. ものともしない can also be used as a predicate: 彼は困難をものともしない.

JLPT N1 tips

On the exam

  • An obstacle + blank + a brave achievement → をものともせず.
  • The key distractor is をよそに: choose をものともせず when the subject is praised, をよそに when the subject ignores others' feelings.
  • にもかかわらず is grammatical in many of the same sentences but neutral; the exam will make the admiring tone clear.

Frequently asked questions

What does 〜をものともせず(に) mean?

in defiance of …; undaunted by …. 〜をものともせず means "treating X as nothing": the subject faces a difficulty (opposition, bad weather, injury, danger) and presses on bravely. 物ともしない = "not regard as a problem". The sentence praises the subject's courage or strength.

How do you form 〜をものともせず(に)?

N(obstacle) + をものともせず(に)、V / Typical N: 反対・悪天候・危険・けが・批判・逆境 / The main clause: a brave or successful action. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

When is 〜をものともせず(に) used?

Formal written Japanese: biographies, sports and news reports. It describes other people admiringly; it is not used for the speaker's own actions. The obstacle is real and serious (反対・悪天候・危険・障害・批判).

What is the difference between 〜をものともせず(に) and 〜をよそに?

"Ignoring X" (others' worries or opposition), often with a critical tone: the subject is indifferent, not brave.

What is the difference between 〜をものともせず(に) and 〜にもかかわらず?

Neutral "despite": no praise, no criticism.

What is a common mistake with 〜をものともせず(に)?

Wrong: 私は反対をものともせず、留学した。 Right: 私は反対を押し切って、留学した。 The pattern praises others; using it about oneself sounds boastful.

Quick check

1 / 5Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

彼女はけが（　　）、最後まで走り抜いた。