Regardless of: 〜を問わず
N + を問わず ; N + は問わない（問いません）
N + を問わず: regardless of, irrespective of, with a noun containing variation (年齢, 男女, 昼夜, 経験の有無). Written register: posters, job ads, presentations.
In short
〜を問わず means “regardless of, irrespective of”. 問う means “to ask, to call into question”: literally, “without asking about X”. The noun must contain some variation or opposition: 年齢 (young or old), 男女 (men or women), 昼夜 (day or night), 国内外 (in Japan or abroad), 経験の有無 (with or without experience). It's the language of posters, job ads and presentations.
- 年齢を問わず、誰でも参加できます。ねんれいをとわず、だれでもさんかできます。Anyone can take part, regardless of age.
- このアルバイトは、経験を問わず応募できます。このあるばいとは、けいけんをとわずおうぼできます。This part-time job is open to all, with or without experience.
- 名古屋のみそかつは、国内外を問わず人気がある。なごやのみそかつは、こくないがいをとわずにんきがある。Nagoya's misokatsu is popular both in Japan and abroad.
- この道は昼夜を問わず、車が多い。このみちはちゅうやをとわず、くるまがおおい。This road is busy with cars day and night.
The basics
問う is “to ask, to call into question”. So 〜を問わず is “without asking about X”: X can take any of its values; it changes nothing about what follows. The noun necessarily contains variation: nobody asks whether you're young or old, a man or a woman, a beginner or experienced.
It's the typical expression of posters, small ads and job ads: “open to all, regardless of…”. In a company profile, it highlights a broad customer base: 国内外を問わず (in Japan and abroad alike).
Nagoya's misokatsu is popular both in Japan and abroad.
- noun
- grammatical form
- verb
- 当店では、曜日を問わずランチを提供しています。とうてんでは、ようびをとわずらんちをていきょうしています。At our restaurant, we serve lunch every day of the week.
- この大会には、プロ・アマを問わず、誰でも出場できる。このたいかいには、ぷろ・あまをとわず、だれでもしゅつじょうできる。This tournament is open to everyone, professional or amateur.
How to form it
You attach it to a noun with を. Typical nouns are pairs of opposites (男女, 昼夜, 内外, 大小, 有無) or nouns that vary by nature (年齢, 国籍, 経験, 天候, 季節). At the end of a sentence, you find the verb form は問わない / は問いません, very common in job ads.
| Type of noun | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| pair of opposites | 男女を問わず | men and women alike |
| pair of opposites | 昼夜を問わず | day and night |
| noun that varies | 年齢を問わず | regardless of age |
| 有無 (presence or absence) | 経験の有無を問わず | with or without experience |
| end of sentence | 国籍は問いません | nationality not important |
- 経験の有無を問わず、やる気のある方を募集しています。けいけんのうむをとわず、やるきのあるかたをぼしゅうしています。We're looking for motivated people, with or without experience.
- 国籍は問いません。日本語ができれば大丈夫です。こくせきはといません。にほんごができればだいじょうぶです。Nationality is not important. As long as you speak Japanese, you're fine.
を問わず, にかかわらず, に関係なく
にかかわらず (next point) has almost the same meaning: 天候にかかわらず (whatever the weather). But it also takes whole clauses, 行くか行かないかにかかわらず, whereas を問わず nearly always attaches to a single noun. を問わず is also the more fixed and administrative of the two.
に関係なく is the everyday equivalent, the one used in conversation: 年齢に関係なく楽しめる.
| Expression | What comes before | Register |
|---|---|---|
| を問わず | a noun containing variation | written, ads, posters |
| にかかわらず | a noun, or 〜か〜ないか | written, regulations |
| に関係なく | a noun, a clause | neutral, spoken |
- 天候にかかわらず、試合は行います。てんこうにかかわらず、しあいはおこないます。The match will take place whatever the weather.
- このゲームは、年齢に関係なく楽しめる。このげーむは、ねんれいにかんけいなくたのしめる。This game can be enjoyed at any age. (everyday tone)
Common mistakes
- Using it with a noun that can't vary: “田中さんを問わず” makes no sense. The noun must be able to take several values (年齢, 男女, 天候…).
- Confusing it with を問う (“to call into question”): 責任を問う means “to hold someone responsible”, the opposite of indifference.
- Translating it literally as “without asking”: in English, say “regardless of, irrespective of, open to all”.
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 N2 point is on the Meijō Line (Politics and society) of the Nagoya lines.