とにかく・兎に角・左右tonikaku

1. adverbanyway; anyhow; at any rate; in any case; at least; just
   とにかく、試験しけんが終おわってほっとしたよ。↗

   Anyhow, I'm relieved the test is over.
2. adverbsetting aside ...; regardless of ...as ...は〜 or ...なら〜
3. adverbreally; truly; certainly; definitely; undeniably

• SynonymともかくNeutralBasically interchangeable with 「とにかく」; it also often appears in the pattern 「～はともかく」, which sets a topic aside before moving on.
• SynonymともあれWrittenA written, formal-flavoured adverb for 'anyhow, in any case'; often used when turning to the main point of the conversation.
• SynonymどのみちCasualColloquial: however things turn out, the result is the same, often with a resigned tone, as in 「どのみち間に合わない」.
• SynonymとにもかくにもNeutralAn emphatic form of 「とにかく」 meaning 'at any rate, in any case'; the tone is stronger and heavier than the headword.
• SynonymともかくもNeutralMeans 'anyhow, in any case'; a shade more formal than 「ともかく」 and rarely heard in everyday speech.
• SynonymどっちみちCasualColloquial: whichever of the two you choose, the result is the same, as in 「どっちみち同じだ」.
• RelatedどうせNeutralSays the outcome will be the same whatever you do, often with resignation or despair, as in 「どうせ無理だ」; 「とにかく」 carries no such negative feeling.
• RelatedまずNeutralMeans 'first, first of all', and can also mean 'probably'; 「とにかく」 is close to it when used in the sense of doing something first regardless.
• Related何はともあれなにはともあれNeutralA set phrase meaning 'setting everything else aside, first…', as in 「何はともあれ乾杯」.
• RelatedとまれかくまれWrittenA strongly literary, classical-sounding way of saying 'in any case'; rarely used in modern Japanese.
• RelatedともあれかくもあれWrittenHeavily literary, classical-sounding 'in any case'; hardly used today — 「とにかく」 will do.
• RelatedまずはNeutralMeans 'first of all, before anything else', as in 「まずはお礼まで」; it stresses doing something first, while 「とにかく」 stresses setting everything else aside.
• Related何は無くともなにはなくともWrittenA written, formal set phrase: even if everything else is missing, this one thing is a must — 'more than anything else'.
• RelatedとまれWrittenAn old-fashioned equivalent of 「ともあれ」 meaning 'in any case'; today it survives mainly in the traffic-sign 「止まれ」, which means 'Stop'.

For 'anyway, in any case' in ordinary speech, 「とにかく」 is the default; 「ともあれ」 suits written or formal prose. To set a topic aside, use 「～はともかく」. When the result is the same either way, use 「どのみち」, and if it comes with resignation, 「どうせ」. To say 'first, do this', use 「まず」. The rest are emphatic, set-phrase or literary variants.

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

1. 何なんはともあれ、ある行動こうどうをとることを表あらわす。
2. ある事柄ことがらを問題もんだいにしないで、別べつのことを行おこなう様子ようす。
3. 心こころからそう感かんじる、または確たしかにそうだと思おもう様子ようす。