を顧みず / も顧みず means despite; without considering; not worrying about; regardless of ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to express that someone acts while deliberately ignoring a risk, standard, consequence, or opposition that would normally hold them back.
This grammar point often appears in news reports, editorials, formal narratives, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to express that a person does something bold or reckless by consciously setting aside a concern, を顧みず / も顧みず is a useful pattern to learn because it adds a sharp, evaluative tone to your Japanese.
What does を顧みず / も顧みず mean?
Use を顧みず / も顧みず when you want to express that someone acts while deliberately ignoring a risk, standard, consequence, or opposition that would normally hold them back.
Natural translations include:
- despite; without considering; not worrying about; regardless of ~
Try to notice what is being ignored first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.
How to form を顧みず / も顧みず
を顧みず attaches to a noun that represents the thing being disregarded. The も variant adds the sense of “even” — the person does not even consider that thing.
Examples of the pattern:
- 危険を顧みず — disregarding danger
- 反対も顧みず — without even considering opposition
- 周囲の目を顧みず — paying no attention to what others think
In JLPT questions, wrong answer choices often use a similar concept but attach it to the wrong grammatical structure. Make sure you recognise the noun + を/も + 顧みず pattern.
When is を顧みず / も顧みず used?
Use を顧みず / も顧みず in situations like:
- describing a person who takes a risk despite obvious danger
- reporting on someone who acts boldly against criticism or social norms
- highlighting a surprising commitment that ignores personal cost
- narrating events where conscious disregard is the key to the action
Tone and register:
- formal or literary; frequently appears in written media and formal speech
- carries a judgement — either admiration for bravery or criticism for recklessness
- rarely used in casual, everyday conversation
を顧みず / も顧みず example sentences
After reading each sentence, ask what job を顧みず / も顧みず is doing: highlighting that the subject ignored something that would normally deter or restrain them.
Nuance of を顧みず / も顧みず
The key nuance is conscious disregard of something significant — danger, norms, personal cost, or consequences. The speaker evaluates the action, either admiring the courage or criticising the recklessness.
This matters because learners often treat を顧みず as a simple synonym for “without,” but the pattern always carries the weight of what is being ignored. The noun before を / も is typically something with clear gravity: 危険, 反対, 犠牲, 批判, 常識. The sentence implies that a normal person would hesitate; the subject does not.
For example:
- “彼は雨の中を顧みず出かけた” sounds unnatural because rain is not a heavy enough concern. Use ～にもかかわらず or ～をものともせず for physical conditions.
- The pattern works best when the disregard is a defining trait of the action, not just a side note.
を顧みず / も顧みず vs もかまわず
Both を顧みず / も顧みず and もかまわず can express that someone acts without caring about something, but they are different.
を顧みず / も顧みず:
- disregards something significant and normally restraining
- formal, evaluative; often used in news, reports, literature
- the ignored noun is a serious obstacle, risk, or social norm
もかまわず:
- not caring about a relatively minor or situational factor
- less formal; can be used for personal indifference or lack of manners
- the ignored noun might be noise, weather, people’s presence, rules of politeness
Quick contrast examples:
- 危険を顧みず救助に向かった。 — He went to rescue, disregarding the danger. (formal, dramatic)
- 彼は人目もかまわず泣いた。 — He cried without caring about others watching. (more casual, less weighty)
If both translations seem possible, check the weight of what is ignored and the overall tone. を顧みず elevates the action; もかまわず often highlights social obliviousness.
Common mistakes with を顧みず / も顧みず
Watch out for these mistakes:
A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with を顧みず and then try replacing it with もかまわず or にもかかわらず. If the tone shifts from formal evaluation to simple indifference, you are on the right track.
Is を顧みず / も顧みず on the JLPT?
を顧みず / も顧みず is tested at JLPT N1 level.
For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences where the weight of the ignored noun is clear. JLPT N1 questions often test whether you can identify the nuance of disregard versus simple contrast.
Practice questions for を顧みず / も顧みず
Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the evaluative nuance becomes clear.
Learning path for を顧みず / も顧みず
To learn を顧みず / も顧みず efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.
Related grammar to review next
- を踏まえて — another formal N1 pattern using を with a verbal meaning; learn how to build on information rather than disregard it.
- を経て — expresses “through” a process or point; contrasts nicely with the disregard of 顧みず.
- を控えて — “with ~ coming up”; both use a noun + を to frame an action, but the stance is cautious anticipation, not bold disregard.
- をいいことに — means “taking advantage of a situation”; this also evaluates an action, but from the angle of opportunism rather than conscious disregard.
Learn を顧みず / も顧みず with Hane
If you want to review を顧みず / も顧みず together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
Browse more lessons here:
FAQ about を顧みず / も顧みず
What does を顧みず / も顧みず (o kaerimizu / mo kaerimizu) mean in Japanese?
を顧みず / も顧みず (o kaerimizu / mo kaerimizu) means “despite; without considering; not worrying about; regardless of”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. Use を顧みず / も顧みず when you want to express that someone acts while deliberately ignoring a risk, standard, consequence, or opposition that would normally hold them back.
How do you form を顧みず / も顧みず (o kaerimizu / mo kaerimizu)?
Noun + を 顧みず Noun + も 顧みず を顧みず attaches to a noun that represents the thing being disregarded. The も variant adds the sense of “even” — the person does not even consider that thing.
What is the difference between を顧みず / も顧みず and もかまわず?
を顧みず / も顧みず: disregards something significant and normally restraining; formal, evaluative; often used in news, reports, literature; the ignored noun is a serious obstacle, risk, or social norm. もかまわず: not caring about a relatively minor or situational factor; less formal; can be used for personal indifference or lack of manners; the ignored noun might be noise, weather, people’s presence, rules of politeness.
What is an example sentence with を顧みず / も顧みず (o kaerimizu / mo kaerimizu)?
消防士は危険を顧みず、燃える建物に飛び込んだ。 — The firefighter rushed into the burning building, disregarding the danger.