ともあれ

と

も

あ

れ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

adverb

anyhow; in any case; anyway

usually written using kana alone

Used to set aside previous details and move to a conclusion or main point. Often appears as ともあれ at the start of a sentence.

理り由ゆうはともあれ、結けっ果かは良よかった。
Whatever the reason, the result was good.
ともあれ、無ぶ事じでよかった。
Anyway, I'm glad you're safe.

See all 9 example sentences ›

Kanji

兎rabbit, hare
有possess, have, exist

Related words

とにかくN3
とにかく is more common in casual speech and can sound more forceful or dismissive, while ともあれ is slightly more formal and often used to transition after acknowledging a situation.
いずれにしてもN1
いずれにしても stresses that the conclusion holds regardless of various possibilities, whereas ともあれ simply sets aside what was just said to move on to the main point.
さておき
ともあれ means 'in any case, be that as it may' and is used to move past a prior point without pinpointing it, whereas さておき deliberately names the topic being set aside.

Written forms

ともあれUsage100%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
兎ともあれ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form using 兎 (rabbit) as ateji; not recommended for learners.
とも有あれ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not recommended for learners.
兎とも有あれ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form combining ateji and 有れ; not recommended for learners.

Etymology

Derived from the particle とも (even if) combined with the imperative form あれ of ある (to be), literally 'even if it is so'. The kanji 兎 is ateji (phonetic use) and unrelated to the meaning.