～を問わず

• Reading: をとわず
• Romaji: o towazu
• Formation: Noun + を問わず + Predicate
• Kanji breakdown: 問 (と) — question, inquire

Meaning

A compound particle meaning 'regardless of' or 'irrespective of.' It indicates that something applies universally without questioning or discriminating based on the stated factor.

を問わず states that a certain factor does not affect the outcome, condition, or applicability of something. 問う means 'to question' or 'to ask,' so を問わず literally means 'without questioning.' It frequently appears with paired opposites such as 男女 (male or female), 昼夜 (day or night), 年齢 (age), 経験の有無 (presence or absence of experience), or 国籍 (nationality). This pattern is formal and commonly seen in job postings, regulations, public notices, and official documents. It differs from にかかわらず in that を問わず tends to list specific categories being disregarded, while にかかわらず is broader and can follow clauses.

Examples

1. この講座は年齢を問わずどなたでも参加できます。 This course is open to anyone regardless of age.
2. 経験の有無を問わず積極的に採用する方針だ。 The policy is to actively hire regardless of whether one has experience.
3. 天候を問わず毎朝のジョギングを欠かさない。 He never misses his morning jog regardless of the weather.

Usage Guide

Context: written, official, business

Tone: inclusive

Do Say

• 性別を問わず誰でも応募できる制度に改められた。
• ジャンルを問わず幅広い音楽を聴くのが趣味だ。
• 昼夜を問わず緊急対応を受け付けております。

Don't Say

• この講座は年齢を問わなくてどなたでも参加できます。(Using 問わなくて instead of 問わず — を問わず is a fixed compound particle and cannot be conjugated this way) → この講座は年齢を問わずどなたでも参加できます。
• 好き嫌いを問わず全部食べなさい。(Using を問わず for a personal command about food preferences — it sounds unnaturally formal for everyday situations) → 好き嫌いに関係なく全部食べなさい。

Origin & History

Compound of を (object) and 問わず (negative form of 問う, to question/inquire). Literally 'without questioning,' meaning the specified factor is not considered relevant.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal