をよそに means despite; without regards to ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern that signals someone’s action unfolds while completely ignoring a surrounding concern, warning, or expectation — often with a hint of criticism or disbelief.
This grammar point frequently shows up in editorials, literary prose, and N1 reading comprehension passages. If you need to describe a situation where a person acts as though a perfectly valid worry or piece of advice doesn’t exist, をよそに is the precise tool to add that layer of judgement to your Japanese.
What does をよそに mean?
Use をよそに when an action or state continues in defiance of or completely ignoring a tangible worry, advice, expectation, or public opinion. The ignored element is often something that, from the speaker’s perspective, should have influenced the person’s behaviour.
Natural translations include:
- despite; without regards to; in defiance of; with no heed paid to
The best English rendering depends on context, but always keep the “intentional disregard” flavour in mind. The pattern almost never applies to neutral natural forces — it targets a person’s or group’s choice to ignore something.
How to form をよそに
Attach をよそに directly to a noun that represents a concern, expectation, or outside voice. The noun is often abstract.
Common nouns that pair naturally with this pattern:
- 心配 — worry
- 期待 — expectations
- 忠告 — advice/warning
- 不安 — unease
- 非難 — criticism
- 声／意見 — voices/opinions
You’ll also see it with noun phrases like 周囲の反対 (opposition from those around) or 親の願い (parents’ wishes). The noun must be the thing being disregarded, not the person doing the disregarding.
When is をよそに used?
Wield をよそに in these situations:
- Criticising someone for ignoring well-meaning advice or warnings
- Describing a character who recklessly pushes forward while others worry
- Depicting the gap between public sentiment and an authority’s actions
- Adding an ironic twist to a situation where expectations are trampled
Tone and register:
- Moderately formal; common in newspaper editorials, essays, and literary narration.
- Carries a critical or at least evaluative stance — it’s rarely neutral.
- In speech, it can sound literary or slightly dramatic; casual conversation often opts for simpler contrasts like のに or くせに.
This pattern shows up frequently in N1 reading sections where the author’s attitude is being tested.
をよそに example sentences
家族の心配をよそに、彼は会社を辞めて旅に出た。
Despite his family’s worries, he quit his job and set off travelling.
周囲の反対をよそに、二人は結婚を決めた。
In defiance of everyone’s opposition, the two decided to marry.
国民の不安をよそに、政府はその法案を強行した。
Without regard for the public’s unease, the government rammed the bill through.
親の忠告をよそに、彼は危険な投資に手を出した。
Brushing off his parents’ warnings, he dabbled in risky investments.
大勢の期待をよそに、その選手は予選で敗れてしまった。
Going against everyone’s high hopes, the athlete lost in the qualifying round.
In each sentence, the disregarded noun represents something that should have altered the outcome. The grammar’s job is to highlight that it didn’t — and the tone often implies the speaker finds that remarkable or disappointing.
Nuance of をよそに
The core nuance is active disregard. This isn’t a neutral “despite the rain” construction; it’s about a human (or group) choosing to ignore a clearly present factor. The word よそに itself is related to よそ (other place, elsewhere), so the literal image is “treating X as something that belongs somewhere else and has nothing to do with me.”
This nuance brings a few specific colourings:
- Judgement: The pattern often carries mild to strong criticism. If you say someone acted 心配をよそに, you’re implying their decision was reckless or thoughtless.
- Ironic contrast: When the expectation is positive and the result negative (e.g., 期待をよそに失敗した), the gap feels especially poignant.
- Not for inanimate forces: It would sound unnatural to say ｢雨をよそに散歩した｣ (the rain doesn’t carry a “concern” or “advice” nuance). Stick to human-related abstract nouns.
をよそに vs にもかかわらず
Both patterns translate to “despite,” but the speaker’s stance differs sharply.
If you swap をよそに for にもかかわらず, you lose the layer of “they should have listened” — the sentence becomes a simple statement of fact. On the JLPT, a question might test whether you can sense the author’s critical tone and pick the pattern that aligns with it.
Common mistakes with をよそに
A good habit: after writing a sentence with をよそに, check whether the noun could be naturally described as “a concern/warning/expectation that should have mattered.” If not, you probably need a different pattern.
Is をよそに on the JLPT?
をよそに is standard N1 grammar. It appears in the 文法 (grammar) section and is equally important for reading comprehension.
In the exam, distractors often pair をよそに with inappropriate nouns (concrete objects or people) or place it where a neutral contrast like のに would feel more natural. Train your ear for the “voice” of the sentence — that will guide your choice.
Practice questions for をよそに
Keep your early attempts straightforward — subject, ignored concern, and resulting action. Once the pattern feels comfortable, try placing it mid-sentence, where the disregarded noun is part of a longer clause.
Learning path for をよそに
Related grammar to review next
- を踏まえて — because it flips the perspective: instead of ignoring a factor, you actively take it into account.
- を経て — because it often appears in narrative timelines right before an outcome that contrasts with a previous concern.
- を控えて — because it sets up an impending event, and how people act をよそに that looming pressure is a rich contrast.
- をいいことに — because it also describes an action that exploits a situation, often while ignoring the proper response.
Learn をよそに with Hane
When you’re ready to internalise をよそに alongside its related contrasts, Hane helps you practise with spaced‑repetition drills, sentence-level prompts, and N1‑focused reading snippets. No passive flashcards — just active recall tuned to the grammar you’re studying right now.
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FAQ about をよそに
What does をよそに mean in Japanese?
をよそに means “despite; without regards to ~” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is をよそに on the JLPT?
をよそに is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice をよそに?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after をよそに, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.