Without caring about: 〜もかまわず
N + もかまわず ; plain form + の + もかまわず
N / 〜の + もかまわず: “without caring about…”. Describing someone who ignores what should hold them back, often with a judgement; distinguish it from てもかまわない (permission).
In short
〜もかまわず describes someone acting without regard for what would normally stop or bother them: other people's eyes, the rain, the time, the price. The speaker often passes judgement (bad manners, recklessness) or stresses an emotion so strong it makes them forget everything. Neutral register, common in narratives.
- 彼女は人目もかまわず、大声で泣いた。かのじょはひとめもかまわず、おおごえでないた。She cried her eyes out, not caring who saw.
- 子どもたちは服がぬれるのもかまわず、川で遊んでいた。こどもたちはふくがぬれるのもかまわず、かわであそんでいた。The children were playing in the river, not caring that their clothes were getting wet.
- 彼は時間もかまわず、夜中に電話をかけてくる。かれはじかんもかまわず、よなかにでんわをかけてくる。He calls me in the middle of the night, with no regard for the time.
The basics
かまう means “to care about, to pay attention to”. かまわず is its written negative form in ず: “without caring”. The noun before も names what should have held the person back. The も stresses that even that doesn't stop them.
It usually describes someone else's behaviour, seen from outside: someone ignoring the proprieties, or overwhelmed by an emotion.
She cried loudly, not caring who saw.
- noun
- grammatical form
- verb
- 彼は値段もかまわず、気に入った物を次々と買った。かれはねだんもかまわず、きにいったものをつぎつぎとかった。Without even looking at the prices, he bought one thing after another that caught his eye.
How to form it
After a noun: N + もかまわず. After a verb or an adjective, first turn the clause into a noun with の: ぬれるのもかまわず, 夜遅いのもかまわず. Common nouns: 人目, 時間, 場所, 値段, 周り. The fixed expression なりふりかまわず means “without caring about appearances, at any cost”.
| Before | Construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | N + もかまわず | 人目もかまわず |
| Verb | plain form + の + もかまわず | ぬれるのもかまわず |
| い-adj | い-adj + の + もかまわず | 夜遅いのもかまわず |
| Expression | なりふりかまわず | at any cost, swallowing one's pride |
- 夜遅いのもかまわず、友達が訪ねてきた。よるおそいのもかまわず、ともだちがたずねてきた。Never mind how late it was, a friend dropped by unannounced.
- 彼はなりふりかまわず働いて、借金を返した。かれはなりふりかまわずはたらいて、しゃっきんをかえした。He worked flat out, with no thought for appearances, and paid off his debts.
A behaviour, not a decision
もかまわず describes someone who ignores something, often excessively or in the heat of emotion. For a calm, considered decision (“I decided without worrying about what others thought”), 〜を気にしないで or 〜に関係なく is preferred.
- 周りの意見を気にしないで、自分で決めた。まわりのいけんをきにしないで、じぶんできめた。I decided on my own, without worrying about what the people around me thought.
Compare: を問わず, てもかまわない
を問わず (N2) is objective: a rule applies “regardless of” (age, sex, experience). No judgement. てもかまわない (N4) gives permission: “it's fine if…”. もかまわず describes an attitude you notice, often with a reproach.
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 人目もかまわず泣いた | cried, not caring who saw (attitude) |
| 年齢を問わず応募できる | regardless of age (rule) |
| ここで泣いてもかまわない | it's fine to cry here (permission) |
- 経験を問わず、だれでも参加できます。けいけんをとわず、だれでもさんかできます。With or without experience, anyone can take part.
- ここに荷物を置いてもかまいませんか。ここににもつをおいてもかまいませんか。Is it all right if I leave my bags here?
Common mistakes
- Confusing it with てもかまわない (permission): 撮ってもかまいません = “you may take photos”.
- Forgetting の before a verb or an adjective: “×ぬれるもかまわず”; you say ぬれるのもかまわず.
- Using it for an objective rule (“regardless of age”): that's を問わず.
8 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 N2 point is on the Meitetsu Nagoya Line (Industry) of the Nagoya lines.