もってのほか

も

っ

て

の

ほ

か

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, noun

outrageous; preposterous; unthinkable

usually written using kana alone

Expresses strong disapproval; something is so improper or unreasonable that it is beyond consideration. Often used in formal or emphatic contexts.

そんな要よう求きゅうはもっての外ほかだ。
Such a demand is outrageous.
彼かれの態たい度どはもっての外ほかだった。
His attitude was most improper.

See all 7 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉は以もっての外ほかだX is out of the question / utterly unacceptable
学がく生せいが授じゅ業ぎょう中ちゅうにスマホをいじるなんて以もっての外ほかだ。
It's outrageous for students to fiddle with their phones during class.
〈動どう詞し〉なんて以もっての外ほかだeven the idea of doing X is unthinkable
上じょう司しにそんな態たい度どを取とるなんて以もっての外ほかだ。
Taking that kind of attitude with your boss is completely unacceptable.

Kanji

以by means of, because, in view of
外outside

Related words

とんでもないN3
とんでもない is a common, everyday way to say something is outrageous or unexpected, while 以ての外 is more formal and carries a stronger tone of moral disapproval.
言ごん語ご道どう断だん
言語道断 is a stronger, more literary four-character idiom meaning 'utterly unspeakable', often used in formal writing, whereas 以ての外 is slightly less extreme but still formal.
論ろん外がい
論外 means something is 'beyond discussion' or not even worth considering, while 以ての外 emphasizes moral outrage rather than mere irrelevance.

Written forms

もっての外ほかUsage9%
search-only kanji form
Usually written in kana; the kanji spelling 以ての外 is also used but less common.
もってのほかUsage86%
以もっての外ほかUsage6%
Kanji form; less common than the kana spelling.

Etymology

From 以て (もって, 'with; by means of') + の + 外 (ほか, 'outside; other'). Literally 'outside of what is acceptable', it came to mean something beyond the bounds of propriety.