N1 Uncertainty, Hedging, and Inference

~ともなく: meaning, usage and examples

~ともなく means: without really... / without intending to...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. テレビを見みるともなく見みていたら、友達ともだちが出でてきて驚おどろいた。

   I was idly watching TV when, to my surprise, a friend of mine appeared on it.

2. どこからともなく、いい匂においがしてきた。

   A nice smell drifted in from somewhere.

3. 窓まどの外そとを眺ながめるともなく眺ながめていると、雪ゆきが降ふり始はじめた。

   As I was gazing absently out the window, it began to snow.

4. 誰だれからともなく拍手はくしゅが起おこり、会場かいじょう全体ぜんたいに広ひろがった。

   Applause started from no one in particular and spread through the whole hall.

When to use it

Two uses. With a repeated verb, it means doing something absently, without intending to: 「見みるともなく見みる」 (look without really looking). With a question word, it means "from no particular" place or person: 「どこからともなく音楽おんがくが聞きこえた」. In both cases, nothing is clear or intended.

Nuance

Literary and descriptive, common in novels and essays. With verbs, it suits passive senses and thoughts: 見みる, 聞きく, 考かんがえる, 眺ながめる. The action is unintended, so it is not used for deliberate effort.

Compare

ともなしに is a variant with the same meaning: 聞きくともなしに聞きく. ながら just means doing two things at once: テレビを見みながら食たべる. ともなく stresses that there was no intention: テレビを見みるともなく見みていた. With a question word, compare か: どこかから (from somewhere) is plain; どこからともなく is literary.

Tip: Remember the set phrases 見みるともなく見みる, 聞きくともなく聞きく, どこからともなく, 誰だれからともなく. They cover most uses you will meet.