言わずと言わず (wazuto wazu)
No matter whether it is one or the other; in every place; the whole, leaving nothing out
Meaning & usage
The pattern Noun1 + と言わず Noun2 + と言わず emphasizes that something holds across a whole category without exception, covering both nouns and everything between them, as in 昼と言わず夜と言わず. It follows two nouns, where 言わず is the classical negative form of 言う, and is typical with opposite pairs such as day and night. It is formal and emphatic, so the pair should suggest a complete range and the final predicate must apply equally to both, while any particle required by the predicate is retained.
Example sentences 3
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昼と言わず夜と言わず働いた。
I worked day and night without stopping.
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この店は平日と言わず休日と言わず混む。
This shop is crowded on weekdays and weekends alike.
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朝と言わず晩と言わず咳が出る。
I keep coughing morning and night.
