〜ともなく / ともなしに (to mo naku)

JLPT N1 Without really … -ing.

Meaning

“Without particularly ~ing.” Doing something aimlessly, with no clear intent.

Formation

Verb (dictionary) + ともなく / ともなしに

Examples

見るともなく外を見ていたら、虹が出ていた。

Miru to mo naku soto o mite itara, niji ga dete ita. — Gazing outside without really looking, I noticed a rainbow.

聞くともなしにラジオを聞いていた。

Kiku to mo nashi ni rajio o kiite ita. — I was listening to the radio without really paying attention.

どこからともなく、いい匂いがしてきた。

Doko kara to mo naku, ii nioi ga shite kita. — From out of nowhere, a nice smell drifted in.

How it works

The same verb usually appears on both sides (見るともなく見る): the action happens, but with no conscious purpose. The result is often a chance discovery.

With question words it means “without a clear ~”: どこからともなく (from nowhere in particular), 誰からともなく (no one in particular started it).

Compared with similar expressions

• 〜ともなく — “without really ~ing,” aimless, unintentional

• 〜ないで — “without doing ~,” the action didn't happen

• 〜つもりもなく — “with no intention to ~,” explicit lack of intent

Common mistakes

• The action does happen — it's just unintentional (different from 〜ないで).

• Use the dictionary form before ともなく.

Related grammar

• 〜ないで — without doing

• 〜つつ — while ~ing

• 何となく — somehow, without reason