〜にかかわらず — JLPT N2 Grammar
Learn 〜にかかわらず to express that something applies regardless of a condition or variable, in formal Japanese.
Pattern
〜にかかわらず (ni kakawarazu)
Structure
- Noun + にかかわらず
- Verb (plain form affirmative/negative pair) + にかかわらず (whether X or not)
- I-adjective pair (〜か〜かに) + かかわらず
- Question word + かに + かかわらず (regardless of what/who/how)
Formality Level
Formal — primarily written Japanese. Common in legal documents, contracts, official notices, and academic writing.
Meaning
"Regardless of X," "irrespective of X," "whether X or not." Expresses that the following statement or condition applies universally, without being affected by the variable expressed by X. The focus is on unconditional universality.
Examples
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 経験の有無にかかわらず、全員が参加できます。 | けいけんのうむにかかわらず、ぜんいんがさんかできます。 | keiken no umu ni kakawarazu, zen'in ga sanka dekimasu. | Everyone can participate, regardless of whether they have experience. |
| 天候にかかわらず、イベントは予定通り開催します。 | てんこうにかかわらず、イベントはよていどおりかいさいします。 | tenkō ni kakawarazu, ibento wa yotei dōri kaisai shimasu. | The event will be held as planned, regardless of the weather. |
| 年齢・性別にかかわらず、全ての市民に適用される。 | ねんれい・せいべつにかかわらず、すべてのしみんにてきようされる。 | nenrei / seibetsu ni kakawarazu, subete no shimin ni tekiyō sareru. | It applies to all citizens, regardless of age or gender. |
| 賛成するかどうかにかかわらず、規則は守らなければならない。 | さんせいするかどうかにかかわらず、きそくはまもらなければならない。 | sansei suru ka dō ka ni kakawarazu, kisoku wa mamoranakereba naranai. | Whether you agree or not, the rules must be followed. |
| どのような状況にかかわらず、安全基準は遵守される。 | どのようなじょうきょうにかかわらず、あんぜんきじゅんはじゅんしゅされる。 | dono yō na jōkyō ni kakawarazu, anzen kijun wa junshu sareru. | Safety standards are observed regardless of what situation arises. |
CRITICAL DISTINCTION: 〜にかかわらず vs 〜にもかかわらず
This is one of the most commonly tested distinctions at N2:
| Pattern | Meaning | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 〜にかかわらず | "Regardless of X" — X is a variable that doesn't affect the outcome | Universal application |
| 〜にもかかわらず | "Despite X," "in spite of X" — X is a fact that normally would affect the outcome | Contrast/unexpected result |
Examples:
- 天候にかかわらず開催する = "We hold it regardless of weather" (weather is not a factor)
- 悪天候にもかかわらず開催した = "We held it despite bad weather" (the bad weather was a real obstacle but we did it anyway)
Test: Can you say "even though X [unexpected situation]"? → Use にもかかわらず. Is X just a variable on a spectrum? → Use にかかわらず.
Common Mistakes
- ❌ 努力したにかかわらず、失敗した → This describes an unexpected outcome despite effort — use にもかかわらず.
- ✓ 努力の程度にかかわらず、全員が参加できる → Effort level is a variable; participation is universal.