〜はさておき / 〜はさておいて
wa sateoki / wa sateoite
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
setting aside …; leaving … aside for now
〜はさておき puts one topic to one side so you can move to the main point: 冗談はさておき (joking aside), 値段はさておき (price aside). さておく = "leave for later". It does not deny X; it just postpones it.
Conversational but polite, also used in writing. Common in meetings and presentations (それはさておき, 本題に入りましょう) and in evaluations that want to focus on one aspect (味はさておき、見た目は…).
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
N + はさておき、…N + はさておいて、…Set: それはさておき / 冗談はさておき / 何はさておき (first of all)
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Nuance | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜はさておき | postpone X, move to the main point | polite, spoken and written | 冗談はさておき、本題へ |
| 〜はともかく(として) | X may or may not be so; Y matters more | neutral | 値段はともかく、味はいい |
| 〜もさることながら | X is admitted, Y even more | formal | 味もさることながら雰囲気も |
Natural examples
冗談はさておき、そろそろ本題に入りましょう。
じょうだんはさておき、そろそろほんだいにはいりましょう。
Joking aside, let us get down to the main topic.
Joking aside: moving to the main topic.
値段はさておき、この製品は本当に使いやすい。
ねだんはさておき、このせいひんはほんとうにつかいやすい。
Price aside, this product is really easy to use.
Price aside: focus on ease of use.
それはさておき、明日の予定はどうなっていますか。
それはさておき、あしたのよていはどうなっていますか。
Setting that aside, what is the plan for tomorrow?
それはさておき: a topic switch in conversation.
何はさておき、まずは無事でよかった。
なにはさておき、まずはぶじでよかった。
Before anything else, I am just glad you are safe.
何はさておき = first of all.
結果はさておいて、彼の努力は評価すべきだ。
けっかはさておいて、かれのどりょくはひょうかすべきだ。
Leaving the result aside, his effort deserves recognition.
はさておいて variant.
Similar grammar and the difference
"X aside (it may be good or bad)": similar, but implies a judgement is being suspended, not just postponed. Compare side by side
"X is one thing, but Y": X is admitted as good; さておき does not evaluate X. Compare side by side
"Let alone X": a completely different, negative pattern; confused only by the は. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 冗談をさておき
- ✓
- 冗談はさておき
- Why
- The particle is は.
- ✗
- 値段はさておき、安い。
- ✓
- 値段はさておき、使いやすい。
- Why
- Once you set price aside, the next clause should be about something else.
- ✗
- それはさておき、（同じ話題を続ける）
- ✓
- それはさておき、別の話ですが…
- Why
- さておき signals a change of topic; do not continue the same subject.
それはさておき is a standard transition in meetings and speeches. 何はさておき means "above all else, first" and is used for urgent priorities. The tone is light and cooperative; it does not dismiss X rudely.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- A topic + blank + a switch to the main point → はさておき.
- Distractors: はともかく (also possible), はおろか, もさることながら. The exam usually makes the switch of topic explicit (本題に入る).
- Set phrases 冗談はさておき and 何はさておき are frequent keys.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜はさておき / 〜はさておいて mean?
setting aside …; leaving … aside for now. 〜はさておき puts one topic to one side so you can move to the main point: 冗談はさておき (joking aside), 値段はさておき (price aside). さておく = "leave for later". It does not deny X; it just postpones it.
How do you form 〜はさておき / 〜はさておいて?
N + はさておき、… / N + はさておいて、… / Set: それはさておき / 冗談はさておき / 何はさておき (first of all). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜はさておき / 〜はさておいて used?
Conversational but polite, also used in writing. Common in meetings and presentations (それはさておき, 本題に入りましょう) and in evaluations that want to focus on one aspect (味はさておき、見た目は…).
What is the difference between 〜はさておき / 〜はさておいて and 〜はともかく(として)?
"X aside (it may be good or bad)": similar, but implies a judgement is being suspended, not just postponed.
What is the difference between 〜はさておき / 〜はさておいて and 〜もさることながら?
"X is one thing, but Y": X is admitted as good; さておき does not evaluate X.
What is a common mistake with 〜はさておき / 〜はさておいて?
Wrong: 冗談をさておき Right: 冗談はさておき The particle is は.
Quick check
冗談（ ）、そろそろ今日の議題に入りましょう。