How to tell them apart
を問わず means without regard to and attaches to a noun such as 年齢を問わず or to a whether or not clause such as 見るか見ないかを問わず, showing the result is the same under any condition. にもかかわらず means despite and follows a clause or noun stating an actual fact, showing the result contradicts expectation. They cannot be swapped because を問わず does not express contradiction with a fact, and にもかかわらず does not list alternatives that do not matter.
- を問わず Use を問わず to state that the outcome is the same regardless of which condition applies.
- にもかかわらず Use にもかかわらず to state that the result contradicts an actual known situation.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| を問わず wo wazu | Without regard to; not affected by | N2 |
| にもかかわらず nimokakawarazu | in spite of; notwithstanding (formal usage) | N3 |
を問わず wo wazu
Without regard to; not affected by
を問わず means regardless of or irrespective of, and shows that a result or rule is not affected by the noun before it. It attaches directly to a noun, as in 年齢を問わず or 男女を問わず, often a noun that implies two or more alternatives. It is a formal expression common in notices and recruitment announcements. Do not insert のいかん between the noun and を問わず.
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試合は晴雨を問わず行われます。
The game will be held rain or shine.
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それは今でも男女を問わず愛読されている本です。
It is, even now, a book loved by men and women alike.
にもかかわらず nimokakawarazu
in spite of; notwithstanding (formal usage)
にもかかわらず expresses in spite of or although, marking a contrast where the result goes against what would be expected from the first fact. It follows nouns directly, as in 雨にもかかわらず, and follows verbs and i-adjectives in plain form, as in 努力したにもかかわらず. With nouns and na-adjectives in a clause, である is required before it. It is formal and common in writing, often used to present an unexpected outcome in an objective tone.
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彼は病気にもかかわらず会に出席した。
He attended the meeting in spite of illness.
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雨にもかかわらず、試合はキャンセルされなかった。
In spite of the rain, the game was not cancelled.
を問わず and にもかかわらず are JLPT N3–N2 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.