“〜wo mono tomo sezu (ni)”: Undaunted By / Braving 〜 (admiring courage) [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Pressing forward bravely, ignoring adversity and obstacles — a term of praise
“〜wo mono tomo sezu (ni)”: Undaunted By / Braving 〜 (praising courage)
「noun ＋ をものともせず（に）」 means “not letting difficulty/danger/adversity faze you — facing and overcoming it bravely” — “undaunted by 〜, braving 〜.” E.g. 「困難をものともせず、挑戦した」 (took on the challenge, undaunted by difficulty), 「大けがをものともせず、最後まで走り抜いた」 (ran to the finish despite a serious injury). It carries strong admiration; the subject is usually an admirable, brave person.
🧠 Core nuance: treating obstacles as “nothing,” pressing forward
The core is ignoring adversity and heroically overcoming it: treating difficulties, dangers, or criticism that should make one flinch (a storm, a serious injury, opposition) as “nothing” (ものともせず = not making it a problem), and bravely pushing on. It's full of respect and praise, reserved for depicting indomitable heroes and their feats. ものともせず literally means “not taking even … to heart.”
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ をものともせず(に) | (obstacle) noun ＋ をものともせず | 困難をものともせず |
| Common nouns | 嵐・困難・大けが・反対・危険 | 危険をものともせず |
| Subject | usually an admired brave person | 彼は嵐をものともせず出航した |
💬 Example Sentences
- 彼は大けがをものともせず、最後まで走り抜いた。(Undaunted by a serious injury, he ran to the finish.) — despite injury
- 困難をものともせず、彼女は夢に挑戦し続けた。(Undaunted by hardship, she kept chasing her dream.) — undaunted by difficulty
- 漁師たちは嵐をものともせず、海に出た。(The fishermen put to sea, braving the storm.) — ignoring danger
- 周囲の反対をものともせず、彼は起業した。(Undaunted by those around him, he started a business.) — despite opposition
- 度重なる失敗をものともせず、研究を続けた。(Undaunted by repeated failures, he continued his research.) — indomitable
🔄 Compare: をものともせず vs にもかかわらず vs を顧みず vs もかまわず
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜をものともせず | “undaunted by 〜” (bravely overcoming, praise) | 困難をものともせず |
| 〜にもかかわらず | “despite 〜” (neutral concession) | 雨にもかかわらず行く |
| 〜を顧みず | “disregarding 〜” (not caring, ± positive) | 危険を顧みず |
| 〜もかまわず | “regardless of 〜, not caring” | 人目もかまわず泣く |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Using が/だ: ✗ 嵐がものともせず／嵐だものともせず → ✓ 嵐をものともせず (を).
- Adding のに: ✗ をものともせずのに → it directly takes the brave action.
- A negative/inanimate subject: it praises a brave person; villains or mere inanimate subjects don't fit.
- A non-obstacle noun: it precedes adversity/obstacle nouns like 困難・危険・反対.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
をものともせず expresses “undaunted by adversity, heroically overcoming it,” full of respect and praise: finishing despite injury, putting to sea against a storm, starting a business despite opposition. It's reserved for depicting indomitable heroes and feats, with a stirring, forceful tone, common in reporting, biography, and tribute. The subject is usually an admirable person. Master its “ignore the obstacle, press on” admiring sense for more stirring expression. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: (obstacle) noun ＋ をものともせず = undaunted by 〜 (bravely overcoming).
- Particle/subject: uses を; the subject is usually an admired brave person.
- Distinction: をものともせず (praising courage) vs にもかかわらず (neutral despite).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「彼は大けが___、最後まで走り抜いた。」（不顧重傷）
(A) をものともせず (B) をめぐって (C) において (D) にとって
Q2. 「をものともせず」の語感は?
(A) 不畏／不顧（勇敢面對，讚賞）
(B) 害怕退縮
(C) 中性逆接
(D) 表示感謝
Q3. 「困難をものともせず」の意味は?
(A) 不畏困難（勇敢面對）
(B) 被困難打倒
(C) 沒有困難
(D) 製造困難
Q4. 「をものともせず」の主語は普通?
(A) 被讚賞的人（勇敢者）
(B) 壞人
(C) 無生物
(D) 沒有主語
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 嵐をものともせず出航した。 (B) 嵐がものともせず。
(C) 嵐をものともせずのに。 (D) 嵐だものともせず。
答案解析
1. (A) をものともせず ── 不顧重傷。
2. (A) ── 不畏/不顧(讚賞)。
3. (A) ── 不畏困難。
4. (A) ── 主語多為被讚賞的勇敢者。
5. (A) ── 「嵐をものともせず出航」正確。