といわず～といわず means both; not only A or B, but (overall) ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to express that a state or condition applies pervasively, without distinguishing between separate parts or times.
This grammar point often appears in essays, formal writing, conversations, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to emphasise that something isn’t limited to A or B — it covers everything in between — といわず～といわず is a precision tool that makes your Japanese sound sharper and more natural.
Use といわず～といわず to say “not just A or B, but the whole thing.”
What does といわず～といわず mean?
Use といわず～といわず when you want to express that a situation, condition, or action is pervasive — it doesn’t stop at the two listed items, but extends to everything around them. Think of picking two representative parts of a whole to say “everywhere” or “all the time.”
Natural translations include:
- both A and B (and by extension everything)
- not only A or B, but overall ~
- regardless of whether it’s A or B
The best translation depends on the sentence. First feel the speaker’s intention — complaint, surprise, description — then match the English that carries that same scope.
How to form といわず～といわず
The nouns are usually contrasting parts of a whole (extremities, times of day, age groups, etc.) — they stand for a spectrum. You attach といわず to each noun, and the phrase as a whole describes a condition that spans the entire range.
朝といわず 夜といわず
子供といわず 大人といわず
The form before the grammar point is always a noun. In JLPT questions, wrong answer choices often try to attach the pattern to adjectives or verbs — watch out for that.
When is といわず～といわず used?
Use といわず～といわず in situations like:
- describing dirt, noise, mess, or a condition that is all over a space, body, or time period
- expressing that everyone, regardless of age or role, does something
- complaining or remarking that something happens constantly, day and night
Tone and register:
- emphatic, often carries a touch of emotion (surprise, frustration, admiration)
- equally at home in spoken complaints and written reports
- fits both casual conversation and formal narration
といわず～といわず example sentences
After reading each sentence, ask what job といわず～といわず is doing: it takes two representative nouns and says “there is no meaningful boundary — the condition extends everywhere.” That mental image sticks better than a one-word translation.
Nuance of といわず～といわず
The key nuance is pervasiveness: the state applies to the whole, not just the named parts.
When you say 手といわず足といわず泥だらけ, you aren’t just reporting that hands and feet are muddy — you’re painting a picture of a person completely covered in mud. The two nouns are chosen because they are far apart on the body; together they imply “from one end to the other.”
Similarly, 朝といわず夜といわず means “all day long” or “from morning to night (and all hours in between).” The pattern tells the listener: don’t think about the specific items — the point is the entire span.
This differs sharply from simple listing patterns like も〜も or や〜など, which simply add items. といわず always carries that sweeping, everywhere-at-once feeling.
といわず～といわず vs も〜も
Both patterns can translate to “both A and B,” but the scope is completely different.
If both translations seem possible, check whether the speaker wants to emphasise the totality or just list two facts. Once you feel that difference, you’ll instinctively choose the right pattern.
Common mistakes with といわず～といわず
Attaching to adjectives.
Turn the adjective into a noun (寒さ・暑さ) and then use the pattern.
Omitting the second といわず breaks the pattern’s structure and its “everywhere” rhythm.
Always repeat といわず after each noun.
This just says you bought a book and a magazine; there is no pervasive scope. Use も.
For simple listing, も〜も or と〜と are sufficient.
A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with といわず～といわず, then rewrite it with も〜も. If the image of “everywhere” disappears, you know といわず was the right choice.
Is といわず～といわず on the JLPT?
Yes. といわず～といわず is standard JLPT N1 grammar.
At this level, the test expects you to catch the contrast between this pattern and simpler listing grammar (like も), and to pick out the pervasive meaning in long reading passages. Practice with full sentences where the context demands a “whole of” interpretation.
Practice questions for といわず～といわず
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the pervasive nuance becomes unmistakable.
Learning path for といわず～といわず
Related grammar to review next
- とあいまって — shares the と particle and describes a combined effect; a natural next step after learning といわず
- とあれば — explores a conditional with と, which contrasts with the sweeping scope of といわず
- とあって — uses と to indicate a reason, building on your ability to recognise と-based structures
- とばかりに — an emphatic “as if” pattern with と, rounding out your N1 toolkit for expressive statements
Learn といわず～といわず with Hane
If you want to review といわず～といわず together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
Browse more lessons here:
FAQ about といわず～といわず
What does といわず～といわず mean in Japanese?
といわず～といわず means “both; not only A or B, but (overall) ~” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is といわず～といわず on the JLPT?
といわず～といわず 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 といわず～といわず?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after といわず～といわず, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.