ともかく・兎も角tomokaku

1. adverbanyhow; anyway; somehow or other; generally speaking; in any case; be that as it may
   ともかく合格ごうかくしてうれしい。↗

   I'm glad to have passed at all.
2. adverbapart from ...; setting ... asideoften as …はともかく
   顔かおはともかく、気立きだてはとてもいい子こだよ。↗

   Looks aside, she is very good-natured.

• SynonymともあれWrittenWritten/formal prose; a dignified 'in any case, anyhow'. 「ともかく」 is the more everyday choice.
• SynonymどうせNeutral'In any case, after all', often with a resigned tone, as in 「どうせやるなら」; 「ともかく」 is about handling the matter at hand first.
• SynonymとにかくNeutralThe most common everyday choice; nearly synonymous with 「ともかく」 but more colloquial.
• SynonymどのみちNeutralSays the result is the same whichever path you take; 「ともかく」 is about setting everything else aside first.
• SynonymとにもかくにもNeutralEmphatic form: 'no matter what', with more force than 「ともかく」.
• SynonymともかくもNeutralEmphatic form, more solemn than 「ともかく」; often seen in writing or at the start of a speech.
• SynonymどっちみちCasualColloquial: 'the result is the same either way'. 「ともかく」 stresses setting other things aside.
• Related何はともあれなにはともあれNeutralSet phrase meaning 'come what may, first of all', as in 「何はともあれ乾杯」.
• RelatedとまれかくまれWrittenArchaic way to say 'in any case', with a classical, literary flavor.
• RelatedともあれかくもあれWrittenArchaic and rare; 'in any case' with a classical flavor.
• Related何は無くともなにはなくともNeutralSet phrase stressing what matters most: 'even if nothing else, this we must have'; unlike 「ともかく」.
• RelatedとまれWrittenMeans 'in any case', like 「ともあれ」; the spelling 「止まれ」 also carries this sense. Written and archaic, rare today.

Use 「ともかく」 to set other things aside and deal with the matter at hand first, as in 「〜はともかく」. In everyday speech 「とにかく」 is the most common choice; in written prose, 「ともあれ」. When you assume the outcome will not change, use 「どうせ」. 「とにもかくにも」 and 「ともかくも」 add emphasis; 「どのみち」 and 「どっちみち」 say the result is the same either way.

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

1. とにかく。
2. （「〜はともかく」の形かたちで）その事ことはひとまず考慮こうりょの対象たいしょうからはずすとして。そのことはおくとして。