connective N1 uncommon writtenliterary
ともなく — without particular intention
ともなく
Meaning
① aimless action (V + ともなく + same V): without really ~ing / absent-mindedly — the action happens with no conscious aim
② vague source (question word + ともなく): from nowhere in particular / no one in particular — the where/who is left unclear
Key sentence
① aimless action (V + ともなく + same V)
見るともなく、窓の外を見ていた。
I was gazing out the window without really looking at anything.
② vague source (question word + ともなく)
どこからともなく、いい匂いが漂ってきた。
A pleasant smell drifted in from somewhere or other.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb dictionary form (often repeated), or a question word + particle | V-る + ともなく(+ 同じ V); 疑問詞(+助詞) + ともなく | 考えるともなく / どこからともなく |
When: Written/literary in flavour; common in narration and description.
Examples
① aimless action (V + ともなく + same V)
聞くともなく聞いていたら、面白い話が耳に入った。
As I was half-listening, an interesting bit of conversation reached my ears.
② vague source (question word + ともなく)
誰からともなく、その噂は広まっていった。
Without anyone in particular starting it, the rumour spread.
Easily confused with
Notes
- In the aimless-action sense the verb is usually the same on both sides (見るともなく見る). The fixed phrase どこからともなく / 誰からともなく is the most frequent form of the second sense.
See ともなく in real sentences
Jengo shows ともなく the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.