ともなく・
This construction describes doing something absent-mindedly, without a clear purpose or focus. After a question word, it can instead leave a person, place, direction, time, or source vaguely unidentified.
Two closely connected patterns
After a verb, the construction tells us how an action is performed: there is no firm intention, goal, or focus behind it. The action still happens, but the person is not consciously directing it toward a particular result. After a question word, the unclear element itself is left unidentified.
Actions without deliberate focus
The construction often accompanies quiet actions that can continue while the mind is elsewhere.
窓の外を見るともなく見ていると、一羽の鳥が電線に降りた。
As I gazed out the window without really looking, a bird landed on a power line.
Analyze聞くともなしにラジオを聞いていたら、故郷の地名が流れてきた。
I was listening to the radio without paying much attention when I heard the name of my hometown.
Analyze歩くともなく歩いているうちに、古い映画館の前に出た。
While wandering without any particular destination, I found myself in front of an old movie theater.
AnalyzeWhy the verb may appear twice
In this pattern, Japanese often states the verb once before the construction and then repeats it as the main action. This is natural rather than redundant: the first occurrence presents the action as something the person was not consciously trying to do, while the second reports the action that was actually continuing.
An unidentified source, person, or time
どこからともなく、焼きたてのパンの香りが漂ってきた。
The smell of freshly baked bread drifted in from somewhere.
Analyze誰からともなく拍手が起こり、やがて会場全体に広がった。
Someone began to applaud, and before long the applause spread throughout the hall.
Analyzeいつからともなく、その噂は町じゅうに知られていた。
At some point, without anyone knowing exactly when, the rumor had become known throughout the town.
AnalyzeDifferent kinds of uncertainty
か何か casually suggests an uncertain example or category, such as “a book or something.” かもしれない says that a statement may be true. By contrast, ともなく presents an action as unfocused or leaves a person, place, direction, time, or source indistinct in a more literary style.
More examples
読むともなく雑誌をめくっていると、一枚の写真が目に留まった。
As I idly flipped through the magazine without really reading it, a photograph caught my eye.
Analyze彼は考えるともなしに、指で机の傷をなぞっていた。
Without consciously thinking about anything, he traced a scratch on the desk with his finger.
Analyzeどこからともなく、かすかなピアノの音が聞こえてきた。
The faint sound of a piano could be heard from somewhere.
Analyze誰からともなく笑い声が上がり、張り詰めた空気がほどけた。
Someone began to laugh, and the tension in the room eased.
Analyzeどこへともなく歩き出し、気づけば川辺に立っていた。
I set off toward no particular place and, before I knew it, found myself by the river.
Analyzeいつからともなく、庭に一匹の白い猫が現れるようになった。
At some unclear point, a white cat began appearing in the garden.
Analyze