にも関(かか)わらず

にも関(かか)わらず expresses that the result is contrary to what would be expected given the circumstances. It is more formal than のに and emphasizes the unexpected contrast.

Common patterns

• [noun] + にも関(かか)わらず: 雨(あめ)にも関(かか)わらず (despite the rain)
• [verb plain form] + にも関(かか)わらず: 注意(ちゅうい)したにも関(かか)わらず (despite warning)
• [i-adjective] + にも関(かか)わらず: 若(わか)いにも関(かか)わらず (despite being young)
• [na-adj + な/である] + にも関(かか)わらず: 元気(げんき)であるにも関(かか)わらず (despite being healthy)

Register

Formal/written. Common in news, essays, and business. In casual speech, のに is preferred.

Similar words

• のに: although (casual, spoken — often implies frustration or regret, which にも関(かか)わらず does not: it simply records the contrast)
• けれども / が: but (neutral connectors)
• それにも関(かか)わらず: nevertheless (sentence-initial form, linking back to the previous sentence)

Writing

Frequently written all in kana as にもかかわらず; official style guides in fact prefer the kana form, since 関(かん) is not the standard kanji for かかわる in this expression. Both are common in print.