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 …
How to form はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで
Noun + 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:
- 仕事仕事はそっちのけで
- 宿題宿題をそっちのけで
- 本業本業をそっちのけで
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.
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.
For example:
- In context, it carries a specific, nuanced meaning that a simpler pattern like 〜ないで or 〜代わりに 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:
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.
Is はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで on the JLPT?
Yes. はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで is firmly a JLPT N1 grammar point.
Practice questions for はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで
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.
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FAQ about はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで
What does はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで (wa socchinoke de / o socchinoke de) mean in Japanese?
はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで (wa socchinoke de / o socchinoke de) means “ignoring (one thing) for (another); instead of”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. 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.
How do you form はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで (wa socchinoke de / o socchinoke de)?
Noun + はそっちのけで Noun + 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.
What is the difference between はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで and をよそに?
はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで: subjective neglect. をよそに: indifferent disregard.
What is an example sentence with はそっちのけで / をそっちのけで (wa socchinoke de / o socchinoke de)?
彼は仕事はそっちのけで、毎日ゲームに熱中している。 — He’s obsessed with playing games every day, ignoring his work completely.