～と言わず～と言わず

• Reading: といわず
• Romaji: to iwazu ~ to iwazu
• Formation: Noun A + と言わず + Noun B + と言わず
• Kanji breakdown: 言 (い) — say, speak

Meaning

A structure meaning 'not just ~ and ~ but everywhere/everything,' indicating that something applies not only to the two examples mentioned but comprehensively, without exception.

～と言わず～と言わず presents two representative locations, times, or aspects, and then implies that the phenomenon extends to all similar cases — essentially 'A and B and everywhere else too.' The two items cited are typically complementary pairs that together cover the whole range (e.g., hands and feet = the whole body; weekdays and weekends = all the time). It carries an emphatic, often slightly exaggerated tone. This pattern is more literary and formal than ～も～も and is found more often in written Japanese and formal speech. It should not be confused with を問わず, which means 'regardless of.'

Examples

1. 彼の腕と言わず足と言わず、傷だらけだった。 His arms, his legs — everywhere was covered in scratches.
2. 平日と言わず休日と言わず、彼女はいつも仕事をしている。 Weekdays, weekends — she is always working regardless.
3. 台所と言わず居間と言わず、家中に荷物が散乱していた。 The kitchen, the living room — boxes were scattered all over the house.

Usage Guide

Context: written, formal-speech, literary

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 顔と言わず手と言わず、泥まみれになって帰ってきた。
• 春と言わず秋と言わず、一年中花が咲いている庭だ。
• 机の上と言わず床と言わず、本が積み上げられている。

Don't Say

• りんごと言わずバナナと言わず、果物が好きだ。(Using unrelated items that do not form a complementary pair covering a whole category) → 手と言わず口と言わず、果物の汁で汚れていた。
• 東京と言わず大阪と言わず行った。(Ending with a neutral verb without implying a comprehensive or emphatic scope) → 東京と言わず大阪と言わず、全国どこにでも出張に行っている。

Origin & History

Formed by repeating と言わず, the negative continuative form of と言う (to say/to call). Literally 'without saying A, without saying B' — implying that one cannot single out just these; the phenomenon is universal.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal