Apart from: 〜は別として
N / 〜かどうか / question word〜か + は別として（は別にして）
N / 〜かどうか + は別として: “X aside, X doesn't matter here”, or “except X”. More neutral than はともかく, less strict than を除いて.
In short
〜は別として takes a point out of the discussion, without denying it: “apart from X, X aside”. With a question (〜かどうか, だれが〜か), it means “whether… or not doesn't matter here”. It's also used to flag an exception: “except X” (一部の人は別として). Neutral register, a little more composed than はともかく.
- 値段は別として、品質はとてもいい。ねだんはべつとして、ひんしつはとてもいい。Price aside, the quality is excellent.
- できるかどうかは別として、やってみる価値はある。できるかどうかはべつとして、やってみるかちはある。Whether we can do it or not, it's worth a try.
- 一部の専門家は別として、この問題を知る人は少ない。いちぶのせんもんかはべつとして、このもんだいをしるひとはすくない。Apart from a few specialists, few people know about this problem.
The basics
別 means “separate, apart”. 〜は別として, “treating X separately”, removes a point from what's being discussed. The speaker isn't saying X is wrong or unimportant: they're simply making clear that their judgement isn't about it.
Price aside, the quality is excellent.
- noun
- grammatical form
- adjective
- 味は別として、この店は雰囲気がいい。あじはべつとして、このみせはふんいきがいい。The food aside, this restaurant has a lovely atmosphere.
How to form it: two uses
First use: setting aside an aspect or a question. Put a noun, 〜かどうか or a question with a question word (だれが〜か, いつ〜か) before は別として. Second use: flagging an exception within a group, “except”. Variants: は別にして, は別とすれば.
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Setting aside an aspect | 値段は別として | price aside |
| Setting aside a question | だれが言ったかは別として | whoever said it |
| Exception | 子どもは別にして、大人は全員 | except children |
- だれが言ったかは別として、その意見は正しい。だれがいったかはべつとして、そのいけんはただしい。Whoever said it, that opinion is right.
- 子どもは別にして、大人は全員千円です。こどもはべつにして、おとなはぜんいんせんえんです。Children aside, it's a thousand yen for every adult.
Compare: はともかく, を除いて
はともかく (N2) is very close, a bit more spoken, and often implies that the point set aside is debatable. を除いて (“with the exception of”) excludes strictly and officially: opening hours, regulations, lists. は別として sits in between: it sets a point aside from the discussion, or marks an exception, in a neutral tone.
| Construction | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| はともかく | never mind X (often debatable) | 値段はともかく |
| は別として | X aside (neutral) | 値段は別として |
| を除いて | with the exception of (strict, official) | 日曜日を除いて |
- 日曜日を除いて、毎日営業しています。にちようびをのぞいて、まいにちえいぎょうしています。Open every day except Sunday.
Don't confuse it with 別に
別に, followed by a negative, means “not particularly”. On its own, as a reply, it's a rather curt “nothing”. It has nothing to do with setting a point aside.
- 「何かあったの？」「別に。」「なにかあったの？」「べつに。」“Did something happen?” “Nope, nothing.”
Common mistakes
- Thinking you're rejecting or criticising X: は別として only takes it out of the discussion.
- Confusing it with 別に (“not particularly”): 別に怒っていない ≠ “apart from that”.
- Using it for a strict official exclusion (opening hours, regulations): を除いて is clearer.
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 Meitetsu Nagoya Line (Industry) of the Nagoya lines.