〜をよそに (o yoso ni)

JLPT N1 Ignoring ~ / heedless of ~.

Meaning

“Ignoring ~ / heedless of ~.” Acting without regard for something, often other people's feelings.

Formation

Noun + をよそに

Examples

親の心配をよそに、彼は危ない旅に出かけた。

Oya no shinpai o yoso ni, kare wa abunai tabi ni dekaketa. — Heedless of his parents' worry, he set off on a dangerous journey.

周囲の反対をよそに、二人は結婚した。

Shūi no hantai o yoso ni, futari wa kekkon shita. — Ignoring everyone's objections, the two got married.

住民の不安をよそに、工事は続けられた。

Jūmin no fuan o yoso ni, kōji wa tsuzukerareta. — Heedless of residents' anxiety, the construction continued.

How it works

The subject presses on while disregarding others' worry, opposition, or feelings. It usually carries mild criticism of that indifference.

It pairs with emotion nouns like 心配・反対・不安・期待.

Compared with similar expressions

• 〜をよそに — “ignoring ~,” disregards others' feelings (critical)

• 〜にもかかわらず — “despite ~,” neutral, no criticism

• 〜を無視して — “ignoring ~,” plainer, more direct

Common mistakes

• It attaches to a noun (often an emotion): 心配をよそに.

• It implies indifference to others — don't use it for simply overcoming an obstacle.

Related grammar

• 〜にもかかわらず — despite

• 〜も構わず — without caring about ~

• 〜を顧みず — without regard for ~