はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで

はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで means ignoring (one thing) for (another); instead of ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern that expresses that someone sets aside something that should be a priority in order to focus on something else, often with a critical or surprised tone.

This grammar point often appears in essays, formal writing, conversations, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to say that someone is so absorbed in one activity that they completely ignore another, はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで is a useful pattern to learn because it adds natural precision to your Japanese.

What does はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで mean?

Use はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで when you want to express that a person or group is ignoring one thing in favor of another, especially when the ignored thing should take precedence. The speaker is often critical, surprised, or amused.

Natural translations include:

• ignoring …​ completely; setting aside …​; instead of …​

The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer’s or speaker’s purpose first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.

How to form はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで

Both forms are grammatically identical; はそっちのけで tends to emphasize the contrast more strongly, while をそっちのけで is slightly more objective. The attached noun is the thing being ignored — the thing pushed to the side.

Examples of the pattern:

• 仕事(しごと)仕し事ごとはそっちのけで
• 宿題(しゅくだい)宿しゅく題だいをそっちのけで
• 本業(ほんぎょう)本ほん業ぎょうをそっちのけで

The form before the grammar point matters. In JLPT questions, the wrong answer choices often use a similar meaning but attach it to the wrong type of word.

When is はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで used?

Use はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで in situations like:

• criticizing someone for neglecting responsibilities
• describing someone absorbed in a side activity
• expressing surprise or irony when priorities are reversed

Tone and register:

• neutral to slightly critical; common in writing, news, and commentary
• Common in test questions, essays, daily conversation, and JLPT N1 reading

はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで example sentences

After reading each sentence, ask what job はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで is doing: highlighting a striking neglect in favor of something else. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation.

Nuance of はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで

The key nuance is complete neglect of an expected priority, with implicit criticism or amazement. The speaker does not merely observe that one thing happened instead of another; they judge that the ignored item should not have been ignored.

This matters because learners often translate advanced grammar too literally. A pattern may look simple, but it can signal the writer’s attitude, the scope of a rule, or the relationship between two ideas.

For example:

• In context, it carries a specific, nuanced meaning that a simpler pattern like 〜ないで or 〜代わり(かわり)に would not convey.
• Compared with をよそに, the judgment is more direct and less detached.

はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで vs をよそに

Both そっちのけで and をよそに can express ignoring, but they are different.

Quick contrast examples:

If both translations seem possible, check the tone. Is the sentence casual, formal, written, explanatory, or emotional? The tone often tells you which grammar point is natural.

Common mistakes with はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Confusing it with 〜ないで, which simply means “without doing” and lacks the judgmental nuance
• Using the wrong particle: it is always はそっちのけで or をそっちのけで, never が or に
• Attaching it to a verb — it only follows nouns; the ignored thing must be a noun

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with はそっちのけで, then rewrite it with をよそに. If the meaning or tone changes, explain that difference in your own words.

Is はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで on the JLPT?

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning.

Practice questions for はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで

Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear.

Learning path for はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで

To learn はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.

Related grammar to review next

• /blog/n1-wa/ — because the は-particle often appears as a contrasting element before そっちのけで
• /blog/n1-wa-dou-de-are/ — because both patterns express a disregard for what something is or should be
• /blog/n1-wa-oroka/ — because はおろか also sets up a contrast between something ignored and something else
• /blog/n1-wa-sateoki/ — because はさておき similarly means “putting aside,” though in a neutral, deliberate way

Learn はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで with Hane

If you want to review はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N1 grammar lessons