〜ともなく (~to mo naku) — without really meaning to / from who-knows-where
Doing something with no real intention — or not being able to say from where, or who.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Sunday, the TV is on in your room. You aren't really watching — your eyes just happen to be pointed at it — and suddenly your own hometown appears on screen!
- 'I had no intention of watching, yet I was watching' — that is 「見るともなく見ていた」.
Meaning
- 「〜ともなく」has two uses.
- ① With a verb: doing something with no purpose or attention, without even noticing. The same verb is usually repeated before and after (見るともなく見る・聞くともなく聞く), and only a few verbs take it, like 見る・聞く・待つ・考える.
- ② With a question word: you can't pin down exactly which — どこからともなく (from who-knows-where), だれからともなく (nobody knows who started it), いつからともなく (since who-knows-when).
How to attach
- For ①: V辞書形 + ともなく
- For ②: question word (+ a particle like から・へ) + ともなく
- 「〜ともなしに」means the same.
Versus what you know
N2Don't confuse it with 「〜ことなく」(休むことなく働いた = worked without a single rest): ことなく = the action doesn't happen at all; ともなく = the action is happening, just without intention.
Watch out
It can't be used for something done on purpose (× 合格するために勉強するともなく勉強した) — the 'idly, absent-mindedly' feeling is the heart of it.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
電車で隣の人の会話を聞くともなく聞いていたら、私の会社の話だった。
でんしゃでとなりのひとのかいわをきくともなくきいていたら、わたしのかいしゃのはなしだった。
On the train I was half-listening to the people next to me, and it turned out they were talking about my company.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 聞く = to listen → attach 「ともなく」 to the 辞書形 → then the same verb again: 聞いていたら (while I was listening) → I didn't mean to listen, but it reached my ears anyway.
どこからともなく、焼き魚のいいにおいがしてきた。
どこからともなく、やきざかなのいいにおいがしてきた。
From somewhere or other came the nice smell of grilled fish.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) どこ = where → add 「から」: どこから (from where) → 「ともなく」 = not known exactly → then 〜てきた: a smell came.
社長の話が終わると、だれからともなく拍手が起こった。
しゃちょうのはなしがおわると、だれからともなくはくしゅがおこった。
When the president finished speaking, applause broke out, started by no one in particular.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) だれ = who → 「から」: だれから (from whom) → 「ともなく」 = you can't say who started it → then 拍手が起こった (applause broke out).
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「休みの日は、窓の外を＿＿＿ともなく眺めている。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Which verb form does it attach to?
V辞書形 + ともなく + the same V. 眺めるともなく眺める = gaze idly.
In which sentence is 「ともなく」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Done on purpose, or without intention?
合格するために (in order to pass) = a clear purpose. ともなく is only for actions done without intention.
「彼は一日も休む＿＿＿、働き続けた。」— which one means 'without resting a single day'?
💡 Hint: Did the action not happen at all, or happen without intention?
ことなく = without doing it at all. ともなく・ともなしに = doing it, just without intention — wrong here.
Your score: /3