ともかく

と

も

か

く

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

adverb

anyway; anyhow; in any case

usually written using kana alone

Used to move past details, change the subject, or conclude that something holds regardless of circumstances. Often sentence-initial or after a topic.

ともかく、まずはやってみよう。
Anyway, let's just give it a try first.

理り

由ゆう

は

ともかく

、

結けっ

果か

は

良よ

かっ

た

。

Whatever the reason, the result was good.

2

adverb

setting aside ...; apart from ...

usually written using kana alone

Used in the pattern …はともかく to set a topic aside before focusing on something else. The preceding noun or clause is acknowledged but not discussed.

見みた目めはともかく、味あじは最さい高こうだ。
Appearance aside, the taste is excellent.
費ひ用ようはともかく、時じ間かんがかかりすぎる。
Cost aside, it takes too much time.

Written forms

ともかくUsage99%
Kana spelling is standard; the word is usually written in kana.
兎とも角かくUsage1%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Ateji kanji form; rarely used and mainly encountered in older or stylized writing.

Kanji

兎rabbit, hare
角angle, corner, square

Similar words

とにかく
とにかく is more forceful and urgent, often meaning 'at any rate' or 'in any case' with a sense of pushing forward. ともかく is softer and more neutral, often used to set something aside or move on.
いずれにせよ
いずれにせよ means 'either way' or 'be that as it may', and is more formal and logical. ともかく is more conversational and can simply change the subject.

Etymology

Derived from the phrase ともかくも, a combination of と (quotative particle), も (inclusive particle), and かく (thus, in this way). The ateji spelling 兎も角 is a phonetic rendering and not related to the meaning of the kanji.