“〜ni kankei naku・to kankei naku”: Regardless Of / Unrelated To [JLPT N3]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
Expressing that something is unaffected by a given factor
「年齢に関係なく、どなたでも」 — 「に関係なく」, regardless of ~
An application form reads 「年齢に関係なく、どなたでもご応募いただけます」 (regardless of age, anyone may apply) — 「noun ＋ に関係なく」 means “the second clause is unaffected by the first — no matter how ~ is,” i.e., “regardless of ~, no matter the ~.” Super common in rules, notices, and expressing equality. This guide covers 「に関係なく」's attachment, that “ruling a variable out of influence” feel, and separates it from 「にかかわらず／を問わず」.
Core: rule a variable “out of influence”
「〜に関係なく」 = “unrelated to, not determined by” — whatever state the preceding condition is in (high/low, present/absent, good/bad), the result is the same:
- Regardless of a condition: 年齢に関係なく、誰でも参加できる (regardless of age, anyone can join).
- Unaffected by a factor: 天気に関係なく、試合は行われる (regardless of weather, the match is held).
Feel: “no matter how ~ is, the result doesn't change” — ruling that variable out of influence.
How to Connect
| Form | Attachment | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ に関係なく | regardless, no matter | 年齢に関係なく |
| 〜の有無に関係なく | regardless of whether there is | 経験の有無に関係なく |
| 〜かどうかに関係なく | regardless of whether | 好きかどうかに関係なく |
See it in context
- 年齢に関係なく、どなたでも応募できます。(Regardless of age, anyone may apply.) — a notice
- 天気に関係なく、試合は予定通り行われる。(Regardless of weather, the match is held as scheduled.) — unaffected
- 経験の有無に関係なく、やる気のある人を採用する。(Regardless of experience, we hire motivated people.) — presence/absence
- 性別に関係なく、平等に評価される。(Regardless of gender, everyone is evaluated equally.) — equality
- 国籍に関係なく、実力で選ばれる。(Regardless of nationality, selection is by ability.) — regardless
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① The second clause attaches directly — no 「て」. ✗ 雨に関係なくて出かける → ✓ 雨に関係なく出かける. After 「に関係なく」, the second clause (verb/sentence) attaches directly, with no 「て」. Adding an extra 「て」 is a common error.
② 「に関係なく」 (everyday, common) vs 「にかかわらず」 (slightly formal/written). Nearly the same meaning (both “regardless of ~”), differing in feel: に関係なく = more colloquial, common (everyday and notices alike); にかかわらず = slightly formal, written (regulations, formal documents). For an everyday “no matter…” use に関係なく; for formal writing use にかかわらず (天候にかかわらず).
③ 「に関係なく」 vs 「を問わず」 (regardless of, without regard to). に関係なく = unaffected by ~ (broad, any noun); を問わず = without regard to (mostly in recruiting/soliciting, attaching qualification conditions like ‘experience・age・gender・nationality') (経験を問わず = regardless of experience, 昼夜を問わず = day or night). を問わず is more like formal recruiting language; に関係なく is more everyday and general.
🔄 Compare with similar forms: に関係なく／にかかわらず／を問わず／によって
| Form | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜に関係なく | regardless of (everyday, common) | 年齢に関係なく |
| 〜にかかわらず | regardless of (slightly formal, written) | 天候にかかわらず |
| 〜を問わず | without regard to (recruiting qualifications) | 経験を問わず |
| 〜によって | depending on, varies with (opposite!) | 人によって違う |
💡 How to remember this
The core of 「に関係なく」 is “ruling a variable out of influence — no matter how it is, the result is the same” (年齢に関係なく = regardless of age, 天気に関係なく = regardless of weather). It's common for rules, notices, and expressing equality (regardless of age/gender/nationality/experience). Three points: ① the second clause attaches directly, don't add 「て」 (✗ 関係なくて); ② nearly synonymous with 「にかかわらず」, に関係なく being more colloquial, にかかわらず more written; ③ close to 「を問わず」 (which is more like formal recruiting language). The key caution is not to reverse it with 「によって (varies with)」 — one is “unaffected (all the same),” the other “affected (each differs)” — opposite directions. For “no matter ~, uniformly ~,” に関係なく rolls off best.
❓ Common questions
Q: How do I tell 「に関係なく」 from 「にかかわらず」 and 「を問わず」? (all “regardless of”)
Very close in meaning (all “regardless of ~, the second clause holds”), differing in feel and collocation. 「に関係なく」 = regardless of, unrelated to (most colloquial, general; everyday and notices alike): 天気に関係なく出かける (go out regardless of weather), 年齢に関係なく参加できる (can join regardless of age). 「にかかわらず」 = regardless of (slightly formal, written; regulations, formal documents): 天候にかかわらず、決行します (we'll go ahead regardless of weather — formal), 成績のよしあしにかかわらず (regardless of grades). 「を問わず」 = without regard to (mostly in recruiting/soliciting, with qualification conditions: experience・age・gender・nationality・day-night): 経験を問わず、大歓迎 (regardless of experience, all welcome — recruiting), 昼夜を問わず営業 (open day and night). So: everyday “no matter…” → に関係なく (colloquial); formal written “regardless of…” → にかかわらず; recruiting “without regard to…” → を問わず. The three are often interchangeable, just differing slightly in register and collocation.
Q: How are 「に関係なく」 and 「によって」 related? (easy to reverse)
They point in opposite directions! 「に関係なく」 = unaffected by ~, the same regardless (the result doesn't change): 成績に関係なく、全員合格 (regardless of grades, all pass — grades don't determine the result), 値段に関係なく、質で選ぶ (regardless of price, choose by quality — price doesn't affect it). Its core is “that factor does ‘not' determine the result.” 「によって」 = depending on ~, varies with ~ (the result changes accordingly): 成績によって、クラスが決まる (classes are decided by grades — grades determine the result), 人によって考え方が違う (it differs from person to person — different people, different views). Its core is “that factor ‘does' determine the result.” So: “unaffected by ~ (all the same)” → に関係なく; “varies with ~ (each differs)” → によって. One rules out influence, the other varies by it — exactly opposite; don't attach the wrong one.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「年齢___、どなたでも応募できます。」(Regardless of age, anyone can apply)
(A) に関係なく (B) に関して (C) について (D) によって
Q2. 「天気___、試合は予定通り行われる。」(Regardless of the weather, the match will be held as scheduled)
(A) に関係なく (B) のおかげで (C) のせいで (D) に応じて
Q3. 「経験の有無に関係なく採用する。」What does this sentence mean?
(A) Hiring regardless of whether one has experience
(B) Hiring only experienced people
(C) Hiring only inexperienced people
(D) Deciding whether to hire based on amount of experience
Q4. 「〜に関係なく」と語感が最も近いものは？
(A) 〜にかかわらず (B) 〜のために (C) 〜について (D) 〜にとって
Q5. 「に関係なく」の使い方として不自然な文は？
(A) 性別に関係なく参加できる。 (B) 結果に関係なく、努力が大切だ。
(C) 季節に関係なく営業している。 (D) 雨に関係なくて、出かける。
Answer Explanations
1. (A) に関係なく ── noun ＋ に関係なく = “regardless of 〜 / irrespective of 〜”; the outcome is not affected by the preceding factor.
2. (A) に関係なく ── 「天気に関係なく」means “regardless of the weather.” (B) and (C) express a cause/reason, and (D) expresses “depending on 〜” — none of them fit the meaning here.
3. (A) Hired regardless of whether you have experience ── 「有無に関係なく」 = regardless of presence or absence.
4. (A) 〜にかかわらず ── Both express “no matter what 〜 is, the outcome still holds,” making it the closest in nuance.
5. (D) ── noun ＋ に関係なく is followed directly by a clause, with no need for 「て」; it should be 「雨に関係なく出かける」.