JLPT N1 Grammar

〜ともなしに (〜tomo nashi ni)

〜ともなしに (〜tomo nashi ni)
"absentmindedly ~; without particular intention ~"

This expression is used to indicate doing something without a clear intention, purpose, or awareness. It conveys an action or observation that occurs vaguely, unconsciously, or without deliberate thought.

  • Formality: The tone is neutral to literary, mostly used in written Japanese, reports, essays, and formal narratives, though it can occasionally appear in polite spoken contexts.
  • Nuance: It often implies subtle observation or indirect behavior, such as noticing something unintentionally, listening without actively focusing, or drifting into an action. It has a nuanced feeling of “without thinking” or “without intending to” rather than casual forgetfulness.

Format

  • Verb (Dictionary Form) + ともなしに / ともなく
    聞くともなしに Hearing without listening
    眺めるともなしに Gazing without focus
    考えるともなしに Thinking idly
  • Interrogative (Wh-word): Where/When/Who + ともなしに
    どこからともなく From nowhere in particular
    いつからともなく From some unknown time
    誰へともなく To no one in particular
  • Noun + ともなしに (less common, literary style)
    心ともなしに Unintentionally / Against one's true heart

Example sentences

  • 。
    He was unconsciously jotting down notes during the meeting.
  • 。
    He was listening to his subordinates’ conversation without really paying attention.
  • 。
    He had the TV on in the morning, just glancing at the news without real focus.
  • 。
    He was unconsciously glancing at the clock during the meeting.
  • 。
    She was organizing the documents absentmindedly, without a clear plan.

Similar Grammar

〜何気なく (nanigenaku)

“without thinking; casually”
何気なく外を見たら、虹が出ていた。 I happened to look outside and saw a rainbow.

Difference:

  • More casual and often spoken.
  • 〜ともなしに carries slightly literary/neutral nuance, suitable for formal written Japanese.

〜つい (tsui)

“unintentionally; inadvertently”
ダイエット中なのに、つい甘いものを食べてしまった。 I’m on a diet, but I ended up eating sweets by mistake.

Difference:

  • Indicates a slip or habit; often emotional or impulsive.
  • 〜ともなしに implies vague, unconscious action rather than a slip.

〜ながら (nagara)

“while doing something”
音楽を聴きながら勉強をする。 I study while listening to music.

Difference:

  • Emphasizes simultaneous action consciously, whereas 〜ともなしに is unconscious or vague.

〜気もなく (ki mo naku)

“without feeling; without thinking of”
彼は悪気もなく、失礼なことを言った。 He said something rude without meaning any harm.

Difference:

  • More subjective; inner state focus.
  • 〜ともなしに often refers to observable action.

〜うつろに (utsuro ni)

“vacantly; absentmindedly”
彼はうつろな目で遠くを眺めていた。 He was staring into the distance with vacant eyes.

Difference:

  • Emphasizes empty-mindedness, often literary.
  • 〜ともなしに emphasizes vague intention rather than emptiness.

JLPT Practice Questions

Now let’s test your understanding.

Q1. 、を（　　　）ともなしに、が。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q2. を（　　　）ともなしにら、が。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q3. のは、（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q4. （　　　）ともなしに、のが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q5. のを（　　　）ともなしに、。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q6. のは、して20（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q7. （　　　）ともなしにが、を。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q8. のをしても、のをのは（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q9. （　　　）ともなしにをら、でが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q10. のでしたは、（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q11. は、を（　　　）ともなしにのが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q12. のは、1000（　　　）。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q13. （　　　）なしに、が。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q14. からのを（　　　）ともなしに。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q15. のは、で（　　　）。
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

Who we are

Japanese at Work is built by gaijins, for gaijins.

Most schools and tutors follow the same path: memorise JLPT vocabulary and study grammar that rarely appears in real workplace writing. This works if your only goal is to pass the test.

But after that, things change. Once you start working in Japan, you’re expected to read reports, follow discussions, and speak clearly about industry news and decisions—at a professional level. If you can’t, you’re quietly left out of conversations and leadership opportunities. This is the gap between JLPT Japanese and real Japanese, and most learners are left to struggle with it alone.

Japanese at Work exists to close that gap. We share content that focuses on the Japanese you actually encounter at work—across business, management, IT, marketing, product, and recruitment.

Learn at your own pace, wherever you are, without distractions, progress bars and daily push notifications. For a limited time, all of our content is free.

Read more