Have you ever been so focused on something that you completely forgot about everything else around you?
Or maybe you have seen someone doing something so bold that you thought,
“Wow, they really do not care what people think.”

That feeling is exactly what もかまわず (mo kamawazu) expresses.

Imagine a couple having a dramatic argument in the middle of a crowded train station.
They are not thinking about the commuters or the noise. They are completely absorbed in their own world.

In Japan, there is a strong cultural value placed on harmony and being mindful of others.
Because of that, ignoring what people would normally care about really stands out.

There is also a well known expression, なりふりかまわず(narifuri kamawazu), which means doing something without caring about appearance or how others see you.
Depending on the context, もかまわず can express surprise, criticism, or even admiration for someone’s determination.

Let’s learn how to use this expressive N2 grammar point to describe those intense “regardless of” moments!

ないで (naide) / ずに (zu ni) vs もかまわず (mo kamawazu)
Both expressions can be translated as “without doing something,” but they are used very differently.

ないで / ずに (naide / zu ni)
ないで and ずに are neutral expressions.
They simply state that something was not done, without adding emotion or judgment.

傘を差さずに、歩いています。
かさ を ささずに、あるいています。
kasa wo sasazu ni, aruiteimasu.
I am walking without using an umbrella.

もかまわず (mo kamawazu)
もかまわず adds the speaker’s feeling.
It shows surprise, criticism, or admiration because the person is ignoring something
they would normally be expected to care about.

濡れるのもかまわず、雨の中を歩いています。
ぬれる の も かまわず、あめ の なか を あるいています。
nureru no mo kamawazu, ame no naka wo aruiteimasu.
He is walking in the rain without caring about getting wet.

💡 Quick Tip:
Use ないで / ずに for neutral descriptions.
Use もかまわず when you want to highlight strong emotion, boldness, or determination.

彼女は人目もかまわず、駅のホームで泣き崩れた。
かのじょ は ひとめ も かまわず、えき の ほーむ で なきくずれた。
kanojo ha hitome mo kamawazu, eki no hoomu de nakikuzureta.
She broke down crying on the station platform, without caring about people watching.

二人は周囲の迷惑もかまわず、路上で激しいケンカを始めた。
ふたり は しゅうい の めいわく も かまわず、ろじょう で はげしい けんか を はじめた。
futari ha shuui no meiwaku mo kamawazu, rojoo de hageshii kenka wo hajimeta.
The two of them started a fierce argument on the street, without caring about bothering others.

娘は服が汚れるのもかまわず、泥あそびに夢中だ。
むすめ は ふく が よごれる の も かまわず、どろあそび に むちゅう だ。
musume ha fuku ga yogoreru no mo kamawazu, doroasobi ni muchuu da.
My daughter is absorbed in playing in the mud, without caring about her clothes getting dirty.

彼は夜が明けるのもかまわず、ゲームに没頭している。
かれ は よる が あける の も かまわず、げーむ に ぼっとう している。
kare ha yoru ga akeru no mo kamawazu, geemu ni bottou shiteiru.
He is completely absorbed in gaming, without caring that night has turned into morning.

夢を叶えるため、私は親の反対もかまわず、日本にきた。
ゆめ を かなえる ため、わたし は おや の はんたい も かまわず、にほん に きた。
yume wo kanaeru tame, watashi ha oya no hantai mo kamawazu, nihon ni kita.
In order to achieve my dream, I came to Japan without caring about my parents’ opposition.

• Grammar Point: もかまわず (mo kamawazu)
• JLPT Level: N2
• Meaning: Without caring about, without worrying about, regardless of
• Quick Explanation: Use もかまわず when someone does something while ignoring things they would normally be expected to care about, such as danger, appearance, or social harmony.
  
  
  

So that’s how we use もかまわず.
It is a powerful expression for describing moments of strong emotion, determination,
and actions taken regardless of risk or surroundings.

失敗の可能性もかまわず、挑戦しつづける人が私は大好きです！
しっぱい の かのうせい も かまわず 、ちょうせん しつづける ひと が わたし は だいすき です！
shippai no kanousei mo kamawazu, chousen shitsuzukeru hito ga watashi ha daisuki desu!
I really admire people who keep challenging themselves without worrying about the possibility of failure.

Now it’s your turn. Try making your own sentence with もかまわず, and share something you keep doing despite the risks!

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫✨

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