Undeterred by: 〜をものともせず（に）
Noun + をものともせず（に）
Noun (formidable obstacle) + をものともせず(に): braving it without being stopped, admired by the speaker. For indifference to other people's feelings, it's をよそに.
In short
〜をものともせず(に): facing a formidable obstacle (an injury, a storm, age, prejudice) without being stopped by it, “braving, undeterred by”. Literally “without making anything of it”. The speaker admires the person acting. Written style: sports reports, narratives, tributes.
- 彼は足のけがをものともせず、最後まで戦い抜いた。かれはあしのけがをものともせず、さいごまでたたかいぬいた。Undeterred by his leg injury, he fought on to the very end.
- 救助隊は激しい吹雪をものともせずに山へ向かった。きゅうじょたいははげしいふぶきをものともせずにやまへむかった。Braving a fierce blizzard, the rescue team set off for the mountain.
- 彼女は周囲の偏見をものともせず、女性初の船長になった。かのじょはしゅういのへんけんをものともせず、じょせいはつのせんちょうになった。Undaunted by the prejudice around her, she became the first female ship's captain.
The basics
もの here means “something that counts”: ものともしない is “not to treat as a problem”. So 〜をものともせず describes someone facing a serious obstacle as if it didn't exist.
The obstacle has to be formidable (an injury, bad weather, illness, disability, discrimination, pressure), and the speaker admires the person's daring or tenacity. You read it in sports reports, biographies, tributes.
Undeterred by his leg injury, he fought on to the very end.
- noun
- grammatical form
- other
- verb
- 彼は足のけがをものともせず、最後まで戦い抜いた。かれはあしのけがをものともせず、さいごまでたたかいぬいた。Undeterred by his leg injury, he fought on to the very end.
- その登山家は酸素の薄さをものともせず、頂上を目指した。そのとざんかはさんそのうすさをものともせず、ちょうじょうをめざした。Undeterred by the thin air, the climber pushed for the summit.
How to form it
Noun + をものともせず, or をものともせずに (same meaning; に adds slight emphasis). The せず form is the written negative of する: ものともしない → ものともせず.
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + をものともせず、 | links two clauses | 嵐をものともせず、出港した |
| Noun + をものともせずに + verb | same meaning, slightly emphatic | 痛みをものともせずに走った |
| Noun + をものともしない + noun | describes a person | 困難をものともしない精神 |
- 困難をものともしない彼の精神力には、誰もが感服した。こんなんをものともしないかれのせいしんりょくには、だれもがかんぷくした。Everyone admired his strength of character, which nothing could stop.
- 老舗の旅館は相次ぐ災害をものともせずに営業を続けてきた。しにせのりょかんはあいつぐさいがいをものともせずにえいぎょうをつづけてきた。This long-established inn has stayed open despite disaster after disaster.
をものともせず, をよそに or にもめげず?
をよそに ignores other people's feelings or views, often with implied reproach. をものともせず confronts an obstacle, with admiration. Compare: 親の心配をよそに (he doesn't care; it's irresponsible) and 嵐をものともせず (he braves the storm; it's brave).
にもめげず (“without losing heart”) stresses morale: you don't let a failure or a difficulty get you down. をものともせず stresses daring in the face of danger.
- 度重なる失敗にもめげず、彼は挑戦を続けた。たびかさなるしっぱいにもめげず、かれはちょうせんをつづけた。Undiscouraged by repeated failures, he kept on trying.
- 家族の心配をよそに、彼は危険な冬山に登った。かぞくのしんぱいをよそに、かれはきけんなふゆやまにのぼった。Heedless of his family's worries, he climbed the dangerous mountain in winter.
Common mistakes
- Using it about yourself: “×私は熱をものともせず出勤した” sounds self-congratulatory; it's an expression you apply to others.
- Choosing a trivial obstacle: “×寝不足をものともせず” for mere lack of sleep is out of proportion; you need a real danger or ordeal.
- Confusing it with をよそに: ものともせず admires, よそに often reproaches.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Tōkaidō Line (The press and current affairs) of the Shinkansen.