Disregard II: によらず & （の）いかん｛にかかわらず・を問わず・によらず｝
This lesson continues on the topic of expressions that translate as “regardless of/irrespective of.”
～によらず
～によらず is inherently the negative form of ～によって, which is used most often to mark an agent or cause—“by” which/whom something is done, or to show means. As ～によらず, it may either show that something is “not by…” or that “X” isn’t concerned with the situation at hand. Ultimately, its main purpose is to reject dependency. In other words, the Y circumstance is not dependent on an X circumstance.
Nouns that ～によらず is most likely to follow include those that deal with kind, standards, hope, efforts, goals, etc.
1. 人間の救いは、人間の資質や性格、努力、経験などにはよらず、神様の愛と福音を信じることによって、神の救いに至ることが出来るというものです。
Man’s salvation does not come by a person’s endowments, nature, efforts, or experiences, but by believing in God’s love and His Gospel, one may be able to attain God’s saving grace.
2. 見かけによらず食べるんですね。
You sure eat a lot despite your appearance, huh.
3. 仕事の内容によらず、給料は一定している。
Salaries are fixed regardless of the substance of one’s work.
4. 武力によらず、権力によらず、ただ我が霊によって、立ちはだかる山は平地となる。
Neither by force of arms nor by authority but by my spirit alone, this mountain which looms forth shall become flat land.
5. 見えるところによらず、信仰によって歩む。
I walk not by where I can see but by faith.
6. 北極星は季節や時間によらず、いつも同じ真北の方角に見えます。
Polaris is always seen in the same due north direction regardless of time or season.
7. 許可によらず農地等が取得できる場合があります。
There are circumstances in which one can obtain agriculture land and such irrespective of license.
8. 生体サンプルによらず血液を使ってリアルタイムでガンの検査が出来るようになりました。
It has become possible to do cancer screening in real time by using blood and not by using a biological sample.
9. 法律によらず顔認証装置を使用することは明らかに違法なのです。
The use of face recognition apparatuses irrespective of the law is clearly unlawful.
10. 何人も、法の適正な手続きによらずに、生命、自由、または財産を奪われることはない。
All people will never be robbed of one’s life, freedom, or property without due process of the law.
Typically, whenever the noun in question is an interrogative phrase such as 誰, 何, 何事, etc. it can be interpreted as meaning “regardless of/no matter…”
11. 何事によらず、いつでも相談してください。
Regardless of whatever it is, please consult with me at any time.
12. 弟は何によらず臆病なところがとても心配です。
I am very worried about how my little brother is timid regardless of what it is.
～によらない
It is also worth noting that ～によらず appears as ～によらない in sentence-final position.
13. 参加の可否は年齢によらない。
Consideration of participation is irrespective of age.
Even so, are quite a few common set phrases that utilize the meaning of “irrespective of…” in which cases ～によらず may still appear in sentence-final position.
14. 人は見た目によらず。
You can’t judge a book by its cover.
Literally: A person cannot be judged by their appearance.
15. 吉凶は人によりて日によらず。
Fortune comes by one’s action, not by the day.
Sentence Note: Ex. 15 shows how the meanings of “by” and indicating relation can blend together and are one of the same thing. Ex. 15 shows that there is always agency involved with によらず, or more specifically, the lack thereof.
～（の）いかん｛にかかわらず・を問わず・によらず｝
～（の）いかん can appear before ～にかかわらず, を～問わず, ～によらず with hardly any change in meaning to these patterns. いかん, written as 如何 in kanji, means “circumstance” as in “how.” Interestingly, いかん may directly attach to nouns, with the inclusion of の optional.
～（の）いかんにかかわらず
～（の）いかん typically follows words that involve multiple parts or selections. （の）いかん can only be added to nouns. These nouns, naturally, deal with circumstance. Nouns with high affinity with ～にかかわらず include standalone nouns referring to single entities (ex. 契約 ＝ Contract), nouns representing pairs such as 有無 (existence or nonexistence), and nouns whose entities relate to uncountable amounts such as 結果 (results) and 内容 (content). It is not, however, used with lists of three(+) nouns.
16. 採否（の）いかんにかかわらず、結果は郵便でお知らせ致します。
We will notify you of the results via mail whether you are recruited or not.
17. 法律内容（の）いかんにかかわらず、売春は種々の接客業と結び付いて多様な形態を取りつつ存在している。
Regardless of the legal circumstances, prostitution is connected to various service trades and exists in diverse forms.
18. 検査の結果いかんにかかわらず、早急にご報告差し上げます。
Regardless of the examination results, we will report them to you immediately.
19. 国籍（の）いかんにかかわらず、優秀な人材を求めております。
We are seeking excellent talented people irrespective of nationality.
20. 調査の結果いかんにかかわらず、ご連絡ください。
Regardless of the results of the investigation, please contact me/us.
21. 履歴書等の応募書類は、結果いかんにかかわらず、ご返却いたしませんので、ご了承ください。
We do not return application documents such as one’s resume regardless of one’s results, so please understand this.
22. 検査の結果いかんにかかわらず、インフルエンザのような症状があれば、周囲の人にうつす可能性があります。
Regardless of the results of your examination, if you have symptoms like that of the flu, there is the possibility that you may spread (the illness) to those around you.
23. 乳牛及び肉用牛農家の全てに立入検査を実施し、疑いのある症状を発見した場合は、検査を行うとともに検査の結果いかんにかかわらず、全て焼却処分され、食肉や肉骨粉の形で流通することがないようにします。
Site inspections of the entirety of farmhouses, both milk cows and beef cattle, are to be implemented; in the case that it is suspected that symptoms have been detected, all (cows) are to be incinerated along with examination regardless of the examination’s results, and efforts will be made to make sure that none of it is circulated in the form of meat and/or meat-and-bone meal.
24. 国民投票の結果いかんにかかわらず、財政赤字と成長停滞という経済問題は変わらない。
Regardless of the results of a national referendum, the economic problems involving the budget deficit and slowdown in economic growth won’t change.
～（の）いかんを問わず
～を問わず itself is used most with nouns that refer to two or more elements. Unlike with ～にかかわらず, ～を問わず can be used with three(+) nouns without sounding unnatural (Ex. 25).
25. 学歴・年齢・性別・過去の実績のいかんを問わず、初任給は一律です。
Regardless of one’s education, age, sex, or past accomplishments, initial salary is at a flat rate.
26. 国籍のいかんを問わず、どなたでも参加できます。
Anyone can participate regardless of nationality.
27. 理由のいかんを問わず、無断欠席は許されません。
Whatever the reason, truancy is impermissible.
28. 事業所が使用材料のいかんを問わず分類される。
Enterprises are categorized irrespective of materials used.
29. 損害発生の原因いかんを問わず、責任を一切負わない。
Regardless of the cause of the breakage, we are not responsible whatsoever.
30. 国家に必要な事業は利益のいかんを問わず、実際に利益を上げるようにす（る）べきだ。
We ought to make sure to actually increase the profits of industries that are necessary for the nation regardless of their (current) profit.
31. 事実いかんを問わず名誉毀損で訴えられる。
To be sued for libel irrespective of the facts.
32. 会員は、理由のいかんを問わず、本規定に基づく一切の権利及び義務について、これを第三者に譲渡し、担保の用に供することはできません。
A member transfers all rights and obligations founded in these provisions to the third-party beneficiary and cannot use them as collateral for whatever reason.
～（の）いかんによらず
～によらず is principally used to negate dependence. The words that are associated with things that people depend on, whether it be means by which they do things or whether it be things that people rely on, the purpose of ～によらず is to state that Situation Y is not dependent on them. ～によらず is actually more commonly used with （の）いかん than it is without it. The use of いかん helps facilitate rejecting that a Y circumstance is dependent on an X circumstance.
33. 理由のいかんによらず、殺害は許されないことである。
Murder is not permissible for any reason whatsoever.
34. 理由のいかんによらず、試験開始後の入室は認めません。
Entry once the exam has begun will not be approved for any reason whatsoever.
35. 理由のいかんによらず、10分以上遅刻した場合は試験を受けられません。
You will not be able to take the exam in the event you are late ten minutes or longer whatever the reason may be.
36. 理由のいかんによらず、欠勤は欠勤であります。
An absence from work is an absence whatever the reason.
37. ジュバ市を除く南スーダンへの渡航は、目的のいかんによらず延期して下さい。
Please postpone voyage to South Sudan, excluding the city of Juba, whatever your objective may be.
38. 一旦受理した書類はいかんによらず返還いたしません。
We will not return documentation that has been accepted whatever the reason may be.
39. 理由のいかんによらず、良品の返品はお受け取りできません。
We cannot accept the return of non-defective products whatever the reason may be.
40. 出席欠席のいかんによらず、必ずメールで返事をするようお願い致します。
Whether you attend or are absent, we ask that you please reply via e-mail regardless.