Japanese grammar
What does ～もかまわず mean? Japanese grammar N2
～もかまわず means without caring about…; heedless of….
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N2 |
|---|---|
| Structure | N + もかまわず Vる／Vない + のもかまわず |
| Romaji | mokamawazu |
| Meaning | without caring about…; heedless of… |
Forming it
| Noun | 人目 → 人目もかまわず |
|---|---|
| Clause | 濡れる → 服が濡れるのもかまわず |
How to use it
Ignores something one would normally be concerned about. The speaker usually finds the behavior unusual or inconsiderate.
- 「Nもかまわず」 = not caring about N: 「人目もかまわず泣き出した」 (bursting into tears without caring who's watching).
- N must be something people would NORMALLY be concerned about: 人目・周囲・服が汚れること・時間.
- A clause must be nominalized with 「の」: 「服が汚れるのもかまわず」.
Examples
彼女は人目もかまわず、大声で泣き出した。
She burst into loud tears, heedless of who was watching.
服が汚れるのもかまわず、子どもは泥の中で遊んでいる。
Heedless of dirtying their clothes, the children play in the mud.
Keep in mind
- A clause needs 「の」.
- Carries the speaker's judgment (usually seen as unusual/inconsiderate).
Common mistakes
-
Wrong服が汚れるもかまわず、遊んでいる。
Not caring about dirty clothes, it just keeps playing.
Correct服が汚れるのもかまわず、遊んでいる。
A clause must be nominalized with 「の」.
-
Wrong時間もかまわず、彼は時計を見ている。
Not caring about the time, he keeps looking at the clock.
Correct時間もかまわず、彼は話し続けている。
The second clause must be a behavior that ignores exactly the thing just mentioned.
Exam tips
- 「もかまわず」 = not caring about something worth being concerned over; a clause needs 「の」.