をものともせず
Making nothing of, Ignoring, In defiance of, Regardless of, Disregarding
Structure
［い］Adjective + の + をものともせず
［な］Adjective + な + の + をものともせず
Noun + をものともせず
Explanation
をものともせず is an expression used to describe someone facing a challenge or difficult situation with courage. It is formed using the particle を, the noun 物 ('thing'), the particle とも, and the negative form of する, which is せず. A good way to think of this grammar is 'without making a thing of (A)', which leads to natural translations like 'in defiance of (A)', 'braving (A)', or 'undeterred by (A)'.
Because this grammar pattern requires the particle を, it must always follow a noun or a nominalized verb phrase.
- その消防士は燃えさかる炎をものともせず、建物の中に飛び込んだ。Braving the raging flames, the firefighter rushed into the building.
- レポーターは激しい雨や風をものともせず、現場から中継を続けた。The reporter continued broadcasting from the scene, undeterred by the heavy rain and wind.
- そのおじいさんは年齢をものともせずに、険しい山に登った。The elderly man climbed the steep mountain, paying no mind to his age.
- A社は不況をものともせず、新しいビジネスを成功させた。Company A made their new business a success, despite the economic downturn.
をものともせず is most often used when praising someone for their perseverance through some kind of hardship, showing how they were not negatively affected by it.
Caution
をものともせず is used to describe the actions of other people and is generally not used when talking about yourself.
- 私は疲れをものともせず仕事を続けた。I kept working, ignoring my fatigue. (Unnatural Japanese)
Examples
船乗りたちは激しい嵐をものともせず、無事に港へ帰ってきた。
Making nothing of the fierce storm, the sailors returned safely to port.
そのサッカー選手は大怪我をものともせず、見事に復帰を果たした。
In spite of a major injury, the soccer player made a spectacular comeback.
その監督はメディアからの厳しい批判をものともせず、自分の信じる映画を作り続けた。
Disregarding the harsh criticism from the media, the director continued to make the films he believed in.
その小さな会社は資金不足をものともせず、画期的な製品を開発した。
Regardless of their lack of funding, the small company developed a groundbreaking product.
消防士は高所への恐怖をものともせずに、燃え盛るビルから子供を救出した。
The firefighter, defying his fear of heights, rescued a child from the blazing building.
ピアニストは指の激痛をものともせず、コンサートを最後まで演奏しきった。
The pianist played through the entire concert, making nothing of the excruciating pain in their fingers.
彼は周囲の反対をものともせず、会社を辞めて夢だったパン屋を開いた。
Ignoring the opposition from those around him, he quit his job and opened the bakery he had always dreamed of.
彼は小柄な体格をものともせず、誰よりも高くジャンプした。
In spite of his small build, he jumped higher than anyone else.
村人たちは度重なる水害をものともせず、力を合わせて村を復興させた。
Undaunted by the repeated floods, the villagers worked together to rebuild their village.
彼女は連日の徹夜による疲労をものともせず、締め切りまでにレポートを仕上げた。
Despite the fatigue from pulling all-nighters, she managed to finish her report by the deadline.
登山家は、手足の感覚がなくなっていくのをものともせずに、山頂を目指し続けた。
The mountaineer kept aiming for the summit, ignoring the fact that he was losing feeling in his hands and feet.
その科学者は長年の孤独をものともせず、ついに新しい治療法を発見した。
Making nothing of many years of solitude, the scientist finally discovered a new medical treatment.
彼女は世間の冷たい視線をものともせず、自分の信念を貫いた。
She stuck to her convictions, disregarding society's cold stares.