～をよそに

• Reading: をよそに
• Romaji: o yoso ni
• Formation: Noun + をよそに + Predicate

Meaning

A compound particle expressing someone's indifference to warnings, criticism, expectations, or the concerns of others. It means 'ignoring' or 'paying no heed to.'

をよそに indicates that someone proceeds with their own actions while completely disregarding or being indifferent to external factors such as warnings, worry, criticism, or social expectations. よそ literally means 'elsewhere' or 'another place,' so the phrase suggests that the person treats those concerns as belonging to someone else's world. It often carries a negative nuance, implying selfishness or irresponsibility, though it can also be used neutrally to describe bold independence. This pattern is primarily literary and journalistic. It differs from を無視して, which is a more direct 'ignoring,' whereas をよそに implies emotional detachment rather than deliberate disregard.

Examples

1. 親の心配をよそに息子は海外へ旅立った。 Ignoring his parents' worries, the son departed overseas.
2. 住民の反対をよそに開発計画が進められた。 Paying no heed to residents' opposition, the development plan was pushed forward.
3. 世間の批判をよそに彼は自分の信念を貫いた。 Ignoring public criticism, he stayed true to his convictions.

Usage Guide

Context: written, literary, news

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 国民の不安をよそに政府は方針を変えなかった。
• 医師の忠告をよそに彼は退院して仕事に戻った。
• 被災者の苦しみをよそに一部の業者が便乗値上げをした。

Don't Say

• 親の心配を関係なく息子は海外へ旅立った。(Using を関係なく is grammatically incorrect — をよそに is the proper compound particle) → 親の心配をよそに息子は海外へ旅立った。
• 天気予報をよそに散歩に出かけた。(Using をよそに for a minor matter like checking the weather — it implies serious indifference to others' concerns) → 天気予報を気にせず散歩に出かけた。

Origin & History

Compound of を (object) and よそに (to somewhere else). よそ means 'another place' or 'outsider.' The phrase literally means treating something as if it belongs to another world.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal