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はともかく・はおろか・はさておき・はさておいて: the difference

Meaning

Setting aside, Apart from

Past papers

Tested once in past papers

Example

冗談じょうだんはともかく、そろそろビジネスの話はなしをしよう。

All jokes aside, let's get down to business.

Meaning

Let alone, Much less, Needless to say, Not to mention, Not only but also

Past papers

Not yet

Example

「ルームメイトはオムライスはおろか、おにぎりさえ作つくれない。」

'My roommate cannot even make onigiri, let alone omurice.'

Meaning

(Leaving or putting) aside, Apart

Past papers

Not yet

Example

それはさておき、会議かいぎの本題ほんだいに移うつりましょう。

Putting that aside, let's move on to the main topic of the meeting.

How to tell them apart

「はさておき」: deliberately changes the subject, putting the first aside and moving to what should be discussed now.

「はともかく」: compares two things; ignores the first even if it has problems and stresses that the second is better or must not be compromised, as in 「値段はともかく、味が最高だ」 (Never mind the price, the taste is the best).

「はおろか」: an extreme contrast, 'not even A, let alone B'; it does not change the topic.

All about はともかく ›All about はおろか ›All about はさておき・はさておいて ›