〜いかんによらず

〜いかんによらず is a conjunction meaning regardless of, used to connect clauses and express logical relationships between ideas. Japanese has a rich set of conjunctions that convey subtle differences in meaning — contrast, cause, concession, addition — and using them correctly makes your Japanese flow naturally.

This is a highly advanced pattern found mainly in literary works, formal speeches, legal documents, and academic writing. It is rarely used in casual conversation.

When to Use#

• When something applies regardless of any condition
• When dismissing all variations as irrelevant to the outcome

When NOT to Use#

• In casual conversation — this sounds literary or stiff; use a simpler expression

Example Sentences#

• 業種いかんによらず、顧客満足が不可欠です。 — Regardless of industry, customer satisfaction is essential.
• 外交の成否は、交渉者の能力いかんによります。 — The success or failure of diplomacy depends on the ability of negotiators.
• 国籍いかんによらず、優秀な人材を採用しています。 — Regardless of nationality, we hire talented individuals.

Practice#

Try reading these sentences aloud, then check the translation and vocabulary:

Common Mistakes#

1. Using 〜いかんによらず interchangeably with 〜であれ — These patterns are similar but not identical. 〜であれ (whether / regardless of) may be preferred in different contexts or registers.
2. Using 〜いかんによらず in casual conversation — This pattern sounds overly formal or literary in casual speech. Reserve it for formal writing, presentations, or situations that call for elevated language.
3. Direct translation from English — The concept expressed by 〜いかんによらず may not map one-to-one with its English translation. Focus on understanding the Japanese usage through example sentences rather than relying on the English gloss.

Related Patterns#

• 〜であれ (whether / regardless of) — Similar
• 〜にもかかわらず (despite / in spite of) — Next step