N2 Exclusion and Setting Aside

~はともかく(として): meaning, usage and examples

~はともかく(として) means: setting... aside / leaving... aside.

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

Examples

1. 値段ねだんはともかく、デザインが気きに入いった。

   Setting the price aside, I liked the design.

2. 結果けっかはともかくとして、全力ぜんりょくを尽つくした。

   Leaving the results aside, I gave it my all.

3. 見みた目めはともかく、このケーキは味あじがいい。

   Never mind how it looks, this cake tastes good.

4. 費用ひようはともかくとして、まず計画けいかくを立たてましょう。

   Let's leave the cost aside for now and make a plan first.

When to use it

Means "X aside" or "never mind X." The speaker sets one point aside as less important for now and focuses on what follows. 味あじはともかく、量りょうは多おおい means "The taste aside, the portions are big." Often the set-aside point is doubtful or not very good, and the second clause says what the speaker actually wants to evaluate or do.

Nuance

Neutral; used in speech and writing. Adding として makes it a little more formal. It often hints that the set-aside item is questionable (見みた目めはともかく). The second clause is usually a judgment or a statement of priority, so it reads as "whatever X is like, at least Y."

Compare

はさておき also sets something aside but tends to drop a topic to move on: 冗談じょうだんはさておき、入はいろう. はともかく usually compares and judges: 見みた目めはともかく、味あじはいい. はもちろん is the opposite: X is obviously included: 英語えいごはもちろん、中国ちゅうごく語ごも話はなせる.

Tip: Read it as "X? Let us not worry about that. But Y..." The second clause usually carries the real opinion, often a positive one.