とかく・兎角・左右tokaku[0]heiban (flat)

1. adverb, suru verb(doing) various things; (doing) this and that
2. adverbbeing apt to; being prone to; tending to
   運動うんどうが健康けんこうの鍵かぎであるのを私わたしたちはとかく忘わすれがちだ。↗

   We tend to forget that exercise is a key to good health.
3. adverbat any rate; anyhow; anyway
4. no-adjectiveall sorts of (negative things); various
   あの人ひとにはとかくのうわさがあった。↗

   There were some unsavory rumors about him.
5. noun, Buddhismthings that do not exist; rabbit horns

• SynonymともかくNeutralFocuses on setting a point aside for now, as in 「値段はともかく」; 「とかく」 instead usually means being apt to, prone to do something.
• SynonymとにかくNeutralThe everyday word for 'anyway, at any rate', as in 「とにかく急げ」; most common in speech. 「とかく」 usually means 'apt to' instead.
• SynonymとにもかくにもNeutralAn emphatic form meaning 'in any case', as in 「とにもかくにも無事でよかった」; it has none of 「とかく」's 'apt to' sense.
• SynonymともかくもWrittenWritten-language synonym of 「ともかく」 meaning 'anyhow'; it lacks the 'apt to, prone to' sense of 「とかく」.
• SynonymとやかくNeutralMeans commenting this and that, often critically, as in 「とやかく言われる」; 「とかく」 is about how someone tends to act, not about criticism.
• RelatedともあれWrittenMeans 'anyhow, in any case' and leans written, as in 「ともあれ無事だった」; 「とかく」 is at home in speech and often means 'apt to'.
• RelatedどうせNeutralMeans 'anyway, after all', often with resignation or frustration, as in 「どうせ無理だ」; 「とかく」 has no such resigned tone.
• RelatedどのみちCasualColloquial; says the outcome is the same whatever happens, as in 「どのみち間に合わない」; 「とかく」 has no such 'inevitably' nuance.
• Related何はともあれなにはともあれNeutralA set phrase meaning 'at any rate, before anything else', as in 「何はともあれ乾杯」; 「とかく」 instead describes what someone tends to do.
• RelatedどっちみちCasualColloquial for 'either way, it's the same', as in 「どっちみち同じだ」; 「とかく」 does not imply a fixed outcome.
• RelatedとまれWrittenAn archaic contraction of 「ともあれ」 meaning 'in any case'; rarely used today, unlike the everyday 「とかく」.
• RelatedとまれかくまれWrittenArchaic and old-fashioned for 'in any case'; rarely heard today, unlike the everyday 「とかく」.
• RelatedともあれかくもあれWrittenAn archaic, old-fashioned way to say 'in any case'; rare today, while 「とかく」 remains in everyday use.

Use 「とかく」 for 'apt to, prone to' — as in 「人はとかく他人を羨みがちだ」 — or for 'this and that'. For 'anyway, at any rate' say 「とにかく」; to set a point aside, 「〜はともかく」; for critical nitpicking, 「とやかく」. 「どうせ」 adds resignation; 「どのみち」 and 「どっちみち」 are colloquial 'either way'; 「ともかくも」 and 「ともあれ」 are written; the とまれ phrases are archaic.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 兎うさぎの角かど。ありもしないこと。