JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 18

～は別として

Set one issue aside before discussing the rest

You’ll be able to exclude a topic temporarily so you can focus on another part of the discussion.

Illustration of the scene described by Setting aside how old the facilities are, this campsite's view is truly wonderful.
Read it first

設備せつびの古ふるさは別べつとして、このキャンプ場じょうの眺ながめは本当ほんとうに素晴すばらしい。

setsubi no furusa wa betsu to shite, kono kyanpujou no nagame wa hontou ni subarashii.

What do you think this sentence means?

Setting aside how old the facilities are, this campsite's view is truly wonderful.

Why it means that

Set one issue aside to evaluate the rest

～は別べつとして means "setting aside..." or "apart from...". It puts an exceptional or secondary issue to one side so you can focus on evaluating the main aspect.

Examples

天気てんきは別べつとして、旅行りょこうはとても楽たのしかった。

tenki wa betsu to shite, ryokou wa totemo tanoshikatta.

Weather aside, the trip was a lot of fun.

好すきかどうかは別べつとして、野菜やさいは体からだにいい。

suki ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, yasai wa karada ni ii.

Whether you like them or not, vegetables are good for you.

How it is built

Attach は別として to nouns or whether-clauses

Attach は別べつとして to nouns or clauses with かどうか (whether or not). The following clause focuses on the general evaluation or distinct point.

noun / clause + かどうか+は別として
Example

上手じょうずかどうかは別べつとして、楽たのしんで歌うたうことが一番いちばんだ。

jouzu ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, tanoshinde utau koto ga ichiban da.

Setting aside whether one is skilled or not, enjoying singing is the most important thing.

Compare

～はもちろん vs ～は別として

～はもちろん includes A: “A, of course, and B too”. ～は別として puts A aside and talks only about B.

  • ～はもちろん, A of course, and also B

    この店みせは、味あじはもちろん、サービスもいい。

    kono mise wa, aji wa mochiron, saabisu mo ii.

    At this restaurant the food is good, of course, and so is the service.

    The food is good too.

  • ～は別として, setting A aside

    この店みせは、味あじは別べつとして、サービスがいい。

    kono mise wa, aji wa betsu to shite, saabisu ga ii.

    Setting the food aside, the service at this restaurant is good.

    Says nothing about the food.

Examples

駅えきから遠とおいことは別べつとして、この部屋へやは広ひろくて明あかるい。

eki kara tooi koto wa betsu to shite, kono heya wa hirokute akarui.

Setting aside the fact that it’s far from the station, this room is spacious and bright.

結果けっかは別べつとして、最後さいごまであきらめなかったことが大切たいせつだ。

kekka wa betsu to shite, saigo made akiramenakatta koto ga taisetsu da.

Setting the result aside, what matters is that you didn’t give up until the end.

本当ほんとうかどうかは別べつとして、その話はなしはとても面白おもしろかった。

hontou ka dou ka wa betsu to shite, sono hanashi wa totemo omoshirokatta.

Whether or not it’s true, that story was really interesting.

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