JLPT N1 Grammar

〜いかんを問わず (ikan o towazu)

〜いかんを問わず (ikan o towazu)
“regardless of; no matter what the... may be”

This expression is used to indicate that a specific rule, condition, or situation applies universally, without being affected by the nature, state, or circumstances of the preceding noun. It is a formal, written expression used to establish clear, objective boundaries or policies.

  • Formality: Very Formal / Literary. It is common in official notices, legal documents, and corporate policies.
  • Context: Business contracts (e.g., "regardless of the reason for termination"), public safety notices, and eligibility criteria for high-level professional roles.
  • Nuance: It carries a tone of absolute impartiality and firmness. Unlike similar expressions, it emphasizes that the "details" or "specifics" (いかん) of a matter will not be considered as a reason for exception. It is often used with "reasons" (理由), "results" (結果), or "circumstances" (背景).

Format

  • Noun + の + いかんを問わず
    理由のいかんを問わず、欠席は認められません。 Regardless of the reason, absence is not permitted.

Example sentences

  • 、。
    Regardless of the reason, cancellation during the contract period will incur a penalty fee.
  • 、。
    Regardless of past career history, we are looking for engineers who align with our company vision.
  • 、。
    Regardless of its success or failure, the insights gained during this project's process are valuable.
  • 、。
    Regardless of the nature of the misconduct, any act that negatively affects the brand image will be severely punished.
  • 、。
    Regardless of market trends, we need to carry out our marketing strategy.

Similar Grammar

〜いかんによらず (ikan ni yorazu)

“regardless of (the nature/degree)...”
国籍のいかんによらず、優秀な人材を採用する。 Regardless of nationality, we hire talented people.

Difference:

  • Nearly identical to 〜いかんを問わず. Both are formal.
  • 〜いかんによらず is slightly more common in legalistic "if/then" consequences, while 〜いかんを問わず is frequently used in corporate policy statements.

〜を問わず (o towazu)

“regardless of...”
このスポーツは年齢を問わず、誰でも楽しめます。 This sport can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age.

Difference:

  • 〜を問わず is a broader term used for general categories like "age," "gender," or "nationality."
  • 〜いかんを問わず is more specific to the "nature" or "circumstances" of a situation.

〜にかかわらず (ni kakawarazu)

“regardless of...”
天候にかかわらず、試合は行われます。 The game will be held regardless of the weather.

Difference:

  • Much more versatile and can be used in spoken Japanese. It can follow verbs and adjectives, whereas 〜いかんを問わず is almost always paired with a noun representing a situation (reasons, results, etc.).

〜いかんでは (ikan de wa)

“depending on...”
検査の結果いかんでは、手術が必要になるかもしれません。 Depending on the test results, surgery may be necessary.

Difference:

  • This is the conditional counterpart.
  • It indicates that the outcome will change based on the circumstances, whereas いかんを問わず means the outcome is fixed.

〜はともかく (wa tomokaku)

“setting aside... (for now)”
結果はともかく、最後まで頑張ることが大切だ。 Regardless of the result, it is important to do your best until the end.

Difference:

  • More casual and subjective.
  • It means "X might be important, but let's focus on Y first." It does not carry the official, impartial authority of 〜いかんを問わず.

JLPT Practice Questions

Now let’s test your understanding.

Q1. （　　　）、のは。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q2. の（　　　）、のがされる。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q3. （　　　）、をしている。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q4. の（　　　）、のはに戻すべきだ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q5. （　　　）、そのはをさせた。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q6. （　　　）、の者をするのがである。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q7. の（　　　）、のにしております。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q8. （　　　）、のはいたします。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q9. （　　　）、をはです。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q10. の（　　　）、がされた。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q11. （　　　）、することにこそが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q12. の（　　　）、したをしなければならない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q13. 的の（　　　）、ののはだ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q14. のは、の（　　　）のはない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q15. の（　　　）は、の（　　　）だ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Continue Your Journey to Native-Level Fluency

Great work finishing this session! Achieving N1-level precision is about layering these subtle distinctions until they become second nature in your professional life.

To maintain your momentum and eliminate any remaining blind spots, head back to our JLPT N1 Grammar List. Use it to systematically check off each point and refine your ability to navigate complex Japanese environments with the confidence of a native speaker.

JLPT N1 Grammar List

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