“〜nimo kakawarazu” Deepened: A Super-Adversative in Written Language [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「疲れているにもかかわらず起きていた」 — the written, objective “despite …, yet …”.

「あれだけ努力したにもかかわらず、不合格だった」 — despite all that, yet…

When results come out, 「あれだけ努力したにもかかわらず、不合格だった」 (despite trying that hard, I still didn't pass) — 「〜にもかかわらず」 = despite ～, although ～ still, meaning “although the first clause holds, a result contrary to expectation appears.” It's a written “super adversative,” formal in tone. It's easily confused with the one-「も」-apart, opposite-meaning 「にかかわらず (regardless).」 This guide covers its adversative use and thoroughly separates it from 〈にかかわらず〉.

Core: although the first holds, yet a contrary result appears

「〜にもかかわらず」 means “although the first clause (this situation/fact) holds, yet (a second clause contrary to expectation appears)” — an adversative:

• 努力したにもかかわらず、失敗した (despite trying, still failed).
• 悪天候にもかかわらず、試合は行われた (despite the bad weather, the match went on).
• 約束したにもかかわらず、彼は来なかった (despite the promise, he didn't come).

Feel: “despite ～, although ～ still” — the core is “although the first situation holds (one that should lead to some result), an unexpected, contrary second clause appears.” It's more formal, solemn, written than the colloquial 「のに,」 a strong adversative. It precedes a noun or plain form (＋にもかかわらず).

How it attaches

Example sentences

• 何度も注意したにもかかわらず、彼は同じミスを繰り返した。(Despite repeated warnings, he repeated the same mistake.)
• 大雨にもかかわらず、多くの人がイベントに集まった。(Despite heavy rain, many people gathered at the event.)
• 医者の忠告にもかかわらず、彼は酒をやめなかった。(Despite the doctor's advice, he didn't quit drinking.)
• 高価であるにもかかわらず、その商品は飛ぶように売れた。(Despite being expensive, the product sold like hotcakes.)
• 十分な準備をしたにもかかわらず、結果は振るわなかった。(Despite thorough preparation, the result was poor.)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① 「にもかかわらず (despite)」 vs 「にかかわらず (regardless)」: one 「も」 apart, opposite meaning. This is the most crucial, most easily-erred pair (see 〈にかかわらず〉). 「〜にもかかわらず」 = despite ～, although ～ still (adversative): although the first holds, a result contrary to expectation appears: 努力したにもかかわらず、失敗した (despite trying, still failed — an unexpected contrary result). 「〜にかかわらず」 = regardless of ～, no matter ～ (unaffected by a condition): whichever case the first is, it doesn't affect the result: 年齢にかかわらず、参加できる (can join regardless of age — unaffected by age). Difference: one extra 「も」 turns ‘regardless' into ‘despite' — 「にかかわらず (regardless)」 is “whichever case, the same” (unaffected); 「にもかかわらず (despite)」 is “although this holds, an unexpected result appears” (adversative). Test: main clause is “all the same／all allowed” (unaffected) → にかかわらず (regardless, see 〈にかかわらず〉); main clause is “yet … (unexpected, contrary)” (adversative) → にもかかわらず (despite). Mnemonic: with 「も」 = despite (adversative), without 「も」 = regardless (unaffected). This is one of N2's most classic traps.

② It's adversative: although the first holds, a contrary result; don't drop the ‘unexpected/contrary' main clause. 「にもかかわらず」's core is adversative — “although the first (a situation that should lead to some result) holds, a second clause contrary to that expectation, unexpected, appears.” So the main clause must be “contrary to the first's expectation, unexpected”: 努力したにもかかわらず、失敗した (effort → should succeed, yet failed — contrary), 悪天候にもかかわらず、決行した (bad weather → should be cancelled, yet proceeded — contrary). It foregrounds the gap of “despite having A (which should lead to some result), the result is contrary.” Test: is the main clause a result “contrary to the first's expectation, unexpected”? Yes → にもかかわらず applies. If the two clauses don't contradict (no “unexpected/contrary”), it's not this adversative use.

③ Written, solemn; colloquial adversative uses 「のに.」 「にもかかわらず」 has a clear written, formal, solemn color, a “super adversative,” mostly for writing, reports, news, formal narration. For everyday “despite ～, even though ～,” the colloquial 「〜のに」 is more common: colloquial 「約束したのに、来なかった (we'd promised, yet they didn't come)」 / written 「約束したにもかかわらず、来なかった.」 Using 「にもかかわらず」 in casual chat sounds too stiff, too formal. Test: written, formal narration → にもかかわらず; everyday speech → のに. (Another written adversative is 「ながらも (contradiction coexisting),」 see 〈ながらも〉 — ながらも leans “two states coexisting,” にもかかわらず leans “although A, yet unexpectedly B.”)

🔄 Nuance & comparison: にもかかわらず／にかかわらず／のに／ながらも

💡 The key point in use

「〜にもかかわらず」 = despite ～, although ～ still (a written super adversative: although the first holds, an unexpected contrary result appears) — three points: ① crucial — 「にもかかわらず (despite)」 ≠ 「にかかわらず (regardless)」: one 「も」 apart, opposite meaning — にもかかわらず = despite (adversative, although A yet unexpectedly B), にかかわらず = regardless (unaffected, whichever case the same, see 〈にかかわらず〉). Mnemonic: with も = despite, without も = regardless; ② it's adversative — the main clause is a result “contrary to the first's expectation, unexpected” (努力したにもかかわらず失敗した); ③ written, solemn — formal narration uses にもかかわらず, everyday speech uses 〈のに〉. Another written adversative is 「ながらも (contradiction coexisting).」 This pattern is a high-frequency adversative in news and reports for stressing “things going contrary to hope, unexpected” — 「〜にもかかわらず、〜」 brings the gap of “despite this, yet the result…” in one line. But be sure to separate it from 「にかかわらず (regardless)」 — the most easily confused pair.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: 「にもかかわらず」 and 「にかかわらず」 differ by just one 「も」 — do they mean the same?

Opposite in meaning, must be separated — N2's most classic, most easily-erred trap (see 〈にかかわらず〉). 「〜にもかかわらず」 = despite ～, although ～ still (adversative): means “although the first (this situation/fact) holds, an unexpected result contrary to expectation appears,” an adversative: 努力したにもかかわらず、失敗した (despite trying, still failed — effort should succeed, yet the opposite), 悪天候にもかかわらず、試合は行われた (despite bad weather, the match went on — bad weather should mean cancellation, yet it proceeded), 何度も言ったにもかかわらず、直らない (despite saying it many times, it's not fixed). Its core is “despite having A (which should lead to some result), the result is contrary/unexpected.” 「〜にかかわらず」 = regardless of ～, no matter ～ (unaffected by a condition): means “whichever case the first is, it doesn't affect the result,” preceding an opposing/range word: 年齢にかかわらず、誰でも参加できる (anyone can join regardless of age — unaffected by age), 天候にかかわらず、決行する (proceed regardless of weather — unaffected by weather), 成績の良し悪しにかかわらず、全員合格 (regardless of grades, everyone passes). Its core is “whichever case, the same (unaffected).” The key difference: one extra 「も」 turns ‘regardless (unaffected)' into ‘despite (adversative).' Method: look at the main clause — main clause is “yet … (an unexpected, contrary result)” → にもかかわらず (despite, adversative); main clause is “all the same／all allowed／uniformly so” → にかかわらず (regardless, unaffected). Mnemonic: with 「も」 = despite (adversative, although A yet unexpectedly B), without 「も」 = regardless (unaffected, whichever case the same). E.g. 「雨にもかかわらず、出かけた (despite the rain, went out — adversative)」 uses にもかかわらず; 「晴雨にかかわらず、決行 (proceed rain or shine — unaffected)」 uses にかかわらず. One 「も」 apart, worlds apart — a distinction to nail down.

Q: 「にもかかわらず」 and 「のに」 both mean ‘though ～, yet' — how do I tell them apart?

The difference is register (written vs colloquial) and emotion. 「〜にもかかわらず」 = despite ～ (a written, formal, solemn adversative): with a clear written, formal color, a “super adversative,” objectively stating “although the first holds, a contrary result appears,” mostly for writing, reports, news, formal narration: 十分な準備をしたにもかかわらず、結果は振るわなかった (despite thorough preparation, the result was poor — written, objective), 再三の警告にもかかわらず、事態は改善しなかった (despite repeated warnings, the situation didn't improve). Its tone is solemn, objective, with little personal emotion. 「〜のに」 = though ～, yet (colloquial adversative, with dissatisfaction, surprise, regret): the most natural way to say “though ～, yet” in everyday conversation, and it carries subjective emotion (feeling it shouldn't be so, complaint, surprise): 約束したのに、来なかった (we'd promised, yet they didn't come — with complaint), あんなに頑張ったのに、ダメだった (I tried so hard, yet it failed — with regret). It's colloquial, emotional. Test: written, formal, objectively stating “despite ～, yet” → にもかかわらず; everyday speech, with dissatisfaction/surprise/regret → のに. E.g. news 「悪天候にもかかわらず、多くの観客が訪れた (despite bad weather, many spectators came — written, objective)」 uses にもかかわらず; chat 「せっかく作ったのに、食べてくれない (I made it specially, yet they won't eat — with regret)」 uses のに. One written/solemn, one colloquial/emotional. Also, another written adversative is 「ながらも (stressing two states coexisting, see 〈ながらも〉),」 with a slightly different emphasis from 「にもかかわらず (although A, yet unexpectedly B).」

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 彼は疲れているにもかかわらず、_____。

(A) 早く寝た　(B) 遅くまで起きていた　(C) 仕事をやめた　(D) 休暇をとった

Q2. 雨が降っているにもかかわらず、_____。

(A) 家にいた　(B) 傘を持った　(C) 外出した　(D) 洗濯をした

Q3. 彼女はお金がないにもかかわらず、_____。

(A) 新しい服を買った　(B) 貯金をした　(C) 節約した　(D) 家にいた

Q4. 彼の忠告にもかかわらず、_____。

(A) 計画を変えた　(B) 同意した　(C) 計画を進めた　(D) 反対した

Q5. 交通が不便にもかかわらず、_____。

(A) その場所は人気がない　(B) 多くの人が訪れる　(C) 誰も行かない　(D) その場所は閉鎖された

Answer Key

1. (B) 遅くまで起きていた ── despite being tired, the result is contrary to expectation (stayed up late).

2. (C) 外出した ── despite the rain, went out (contrary to expectation).

3. (A) 新しい服を買った ── despite having no money, bought new clothes.

4. (C) 計画を進めた ── despite his advice, pushed the plan forward.

5. (B) 多くの人が訪れる ── despite inconvenient transport, many people visit.