〜をものともせず (~o mono to mo sezu) — undaunted by ~ / in the face of ~
A big obstacle stood in the way, but they pushed on without giving in — a form that praises someone's courage.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Sports news on TV: 'Undaunted by her leg injury, the runner ran all the way to the finish.'
- Most people would have stopped right there, but she did not give in.
Meaning
- 「〜をものともせず」= praise: 'there was a big obstacle, but they overcame it without losing heart' — always positive, praise for courage.
- What follows is the brave action done in spite of it.
How to attach
- Straight after a noun (けがをものともせず); you may add 「に」: 「をものともせずに」
- The noun is usually a big obstacle: 病気・けが・嵐・危険・反対・言葉の壁
Versus what you know
N2「〜もかまわず」(「人目もかまわず泣いた」) carries criticism: 'not caring what others think'.
Watch out
- It is said only about other people (third person) — 「私は病気をものともせず…」sounds like you are praising yourself.
- A small inconvenience (a bit of rain, slight tiredness) is too small for this big word.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
彼女は足のけがをものともせず、最後まで走り抜いた。
かのじょはあしのけがをものともせず、さいごまではしりぬいた。
Undaunted by her leg injury, she ran all the way to the end.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 彼女は = she (someone else) → 足のけが = leg injury (a big obstacle) → 「をものともせず」 = paying it no mind → then a brave act: 走り抜いた (ran to the very end).
選手たちは激しい雨をものともせずに、全力でプレーを続けた。
せんしゅたちははげしいあめをものともせずに、ぜんりょくでプレーをつづけた。
Undaunted by the pouring rain, the players kept playing with everything they had.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 激しい雨 = pouring rain (not light rain — a big obstacle) → 「をものともせずに」 (the form with 「に」 added) → then: 全力でプレーを続けた (kept playing with all their strength).
彼は言葉の壁をものともせず、来日三年で店長になった。
かれはことばのかべをものともせず、らいにちさんねんでてんちょうになった。
Undaunted by the language barrier, he became a store manager within three years of coming to Japan.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 言葉の壁 = language barrier (a big obstacle) → 「をものともせず」 → then a success worth praising: 来日三年で店長になった.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「消防士たちは危険＿＿＿＿、炎の中へ入っていった。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Which particle follows the noun for the obstacle?
N + を + ものともせず. 危険をものともせず = undaunted by the danger.
Which sentence is natural?
💡 Hint: Someone else, a big obstacle, an action worth praising.
「私は」— praising yourself, wrong; 「少しの眠気」— too small an obstacle; 「周りの迷惑」— criticism, not praise. Staying on stage through serious illness = praise for courage.
Why can't 「をものともせず」replace 「もかまわず」in 「人目もかまわず泣いた」?
💡 Hint: What does をものともせず praise?
もかまわず = not caring (often critical). をものともせず = praise for overcoming a big obstacle — people's eyes are not a big obstacle, and crying is not a brave act.
Your score: /3