JLPT N2Written, formalAdverts and rules

を問とわずregardless of

Something is open to everyone, or holds in every case: any age, any nationality, day or night. It is the "regardless of" of job adverts, rules and notices.

本ほん制せい度どは、年ねん齢れいを問とわず利り用ようできます。

This program is available regardless of age.

この相そう談だん窓まど口ぐちは、昼ちゅう夜やを問とわず利り用ようできます。

This consultation service is available day and night.

How to form it

Noun + を問とわず

The noun names a range (年ねん齢れい, 国こく籍せき, 経けい験けん) or a pair of opposites (男だん女じょ, 昼ちゅう夜や, 経けい験けんの有う無む).

After it: What is open to all, or always so: 利り用ようできます, 募ぼ集しゅうしています, 必ひつ要ようです.
Where you'll meet it: Job adverts, application guidelines, rules, notices, the news.
In adverts: Also 年ねん齢れいは問といません, and shortest of all 年ねん齢れい不ふ問もん: any age.

In use

当とう財ざい団だんは、国こく籍せきを問とわず研けん究きゅう員いんを募ぼ集しゅうしています。

Our foundation is recruiting researchers regardless of nationality.

予よ約やくの有う無むを問とわず、入にゅう館かん時じに本ほん人にん確かく認にんが必ひつ要ようです。

Whether or not you have a reservation, an identity check is required when you enter.

会かい員いん・非ひ会かい員いんを問とわず、説せつ明めい会かいに参さん加かできます。

Members and non-members alike can attend the information session.

年ねん齢れいは問とわず、実じつ務む経けい験けんのある方かたを募ぼ集しゅうします。

There is no age requirement; we are seeking applicants with practical experience.

With は: age is the one thing that doesn't matter.

The noun covers every case

English says "regardless of the rain". を問とわず can't follow one fact like that. The noun has to take in every case, so rain becomes weather.

Not said: 雨あめを問とわず、試し合あいは行おこなわれた。

(The match went ahead regardless of the rain.)

One fact that didn't stop it is 雨あめにもかかわらず, "despite the rain". Rain or shine is 天てん候こうを問とわず.

In conversation

In a chat it can sound like a notice read aloud. People say に関かん係けいなく.

この講こう座ざは、年ねん齢れいを問とわず受じゅ講こうできます。

This course is open to everyone, regardless of age.

The leaflet.

この講こう座ざ、年ねん齢れいに関かん係けいなく受うけられるって。

It says anyone can take this course, whatever their age.

You, telling a friend.

Close neighbours

にかかわらずN2

The same after a noun. After a verb with its negative, or after かどうか, it is usually this one.

参さん加かするしないにかかわらず、金きん曜よう日びまでに返へん事じをください。

Whether you are taking part or not, please reply by Friday.

Check yourself

1Which word fits?

このアルバイトは、（　　）を問とわず応おう募ぼできます。

Choose an answer to see why.

2A job advert says this. What does it mean?

年ねん齢れい・経けい験けん不ふ問もん

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

It comes from 問とう, to ask: "without asking".

Some are fixed phrases: 昼ちゅう夜やを問とわず (day and night), 季き節せつを問とわず (all year round), 老ろう若にゃく男なん女にょを問とわず (young and old, men and women).

More sentences

平へい日じつ・休きゅう日じつを問とわず、警けい備び員いんが常じょう駐ちゅうしています。

Security staff are on duty on weekdays and holidays alike.

国こく内ない外がいを問とわず、共きょう同どう研けん究きゅうの提てい案あんを受うけ付つけています。

We accept joint research proposals from both within the country and abroad.

居きょ住じゅう地ちは問とわず、オンラインで申しん請せいできます。

It doesn't matter where you live; you can apply online.

学がく歴れき・経けい験けんは問といません。

No particular education or experience is required.

Compared with similar forms

"Whether or not", "no matter", "regardless of" and "never mind"