How to tell them apart
をよそに means to go ahead while simply ignoring or paying no heed to opposition, advice or surrounding conditions, as in 批判をよそに and 台風の接近をよそに. をものともせず means to treat a difficulty or opposition as nothing and push forward bravely, as in 批判をものともせず and 高波をものともせず. The contrast is attitude, not noun type: indifferent disregard versus courageous defiance, so both can follow nouns like 批判, and 妻の忠告をものともせず is also natural.
- をよそに Use をよそに to show someone disregards advice, criticism, feelings or surrounding conditions and acts as if unrelated.
- をものともせず Use をものともせず to show someone is undaunted by difficulty, danger or opposition and pushes forward bravely.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| をよそに woyosoni | Acting in defiance of or disregarding something | N1 |
| をものともせず womonotomosezu | Undaunted by; in spite of | N1 |
をよそに woyosoni
Acting in defiance of or disregarding something
をよそに expresses doing something in defiance of or without regard for someone's feelings, opinions, or reactions. It follows nouns that represent human concern or attitude, such as 心配, 反対, 忠告, or 批判, as in 心配をよそに. It is a formal written expression and cannot be used with neutral surrounding conditions like weather or the economy.
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両親の心配をよそに、彼は一人で南米へ旅立った。
Ignoring his parents' worries, he set off alone for South America.
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住民の反対をよそに、その土地に大型マンションが建ち始めた。
Disregarding the residents' opposition, construction of a large apartment building began on that land.
をものともせず womonotomosezu
Undaunted by; in spite of
It expresses pushing ahead without being stopped by a serious obstacle such as cold, danger, or criticism. It attaches to a noun with を, as in 危険をものともせず or 危険をものともせずに, where に is optional and せず is the literary negative form of する. It is formal and literary in tone, and it is followed by an action showing courage or determination.
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寒さをものともせずに、彼は薄着で外出した。
Making nothing of the cold, he went out in thin clothes.
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そのおてんば娘は危険をものともせずにその木に登った。
The reckless girl climbed the tree regardless of danger.
をよそに and をものともせず are both JLPT N1 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.