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Grammar detail: はともかく(として)

はともかく(として)  putting aside ~, ~; although ~, ~
228 words
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noun
+
+
ともかく
means
regardless of ~, ~; although ~, ~
はともかく is often used when the speaker wants to encourage the listener not to pay attention A, but rather to consider B in relation to the topic or thing being discussed. In other words, A is not really an issue (although it might appear the case), so let's not worry about that, let's focus on B.
あの
ひと
せいかく
性格
ともかく
しごと
仕事
できる
Putting his personality to one side, he can do his job.
このケーキ
ともかく
あじ
とてもいい
Although this cake doesn't look good, it tastes great.
りょこう
旅行
行かないともかくまずは
しけん
試験
べんきょう
勉強
しゅうちゅう
集中
しなさい
Put whether you will or won't go on a trip to the side, and focus on studying for your exams for starters.
かお
ともかく
きだ
気立
とてもいい
Looks aside, she is very good-natured.
In many cases はとまかくand はさておき are interchangeable, however さておき tends to be used about a matter that has been previously raised. For instance, in the case of our first example sentence, if in previous discussions this person was described as "unfriendly" and his personality was raised again in a new discussion, the speaker would be more likely to use さておき to move the focus to B. - あの人は性格はさておき、仕事はできる.

ともかく in any case; anyhow; anyway...

As demonstrated in the next example sentences, ともかく can mean "in any case; anyhow; anyway" and similar phrases. When used to express this meaning, it will often (but not always) come at the start of a sentence.
ともかく
やくそく
約束
やぶ
よくありません
In any case, it's wrong to break a promise.
ともかく
ぎむ
義務
だけ
たした

At any rate, I did my duty.
あした
明日
あめ
なるかもしれないともかく
わたし
たち
かける
つもり
It may rain tomorrow, but we are going in any case.

じょうだん
冗談
はともかく - jokes aside

冗談はともかくis a set phrase meaning 'jokes aside...' or 'joking aside...'. It is interchangeable with 冗談はさておき which has the same meaning.
じょうだん
冗談
ともかく
きみ
ずのう
頭脳
いしゃ
医者
みせるべき
Joking apart, you ought to see a doctor about your headache.
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Kanji used in this grammar

ジン   ニン   ひと person   
セイ   ショウ    sex, gender, nature, disposition   
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カク   コウ    status, rank   
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シ   ジ   つかえる to attend to   
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ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
ジョウ    superfluous   
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ダン    discussion   
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ケン   み to see   みえる to be seen; to appear   みせる to show   
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ボク   モク   eye   ま-    め    
ミ   あじ taste   あじわう to taste   
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リョ   たび trip   
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コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆ    い to go   おこな to take place   
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シ   ため to test   こころみる to attempt   
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ケン   ゲン    verification   
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ベン    exertion   
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キョウ   ゴウ   つよ strong   つよまる to get stronger   つよめる to strengthen   しいる to compel, to force   
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シュウ   あつめる to gather   あつまる    つど to assemble   
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チュウ   ジュウ   なか middle   
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ガン   かお face   
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キ   ケ    spirit   
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リツ   リュウ   た to stand   たてる to build   
ヤク    promise; approximate   
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ソク   たば bundle   たばねる to tie in a bundle   
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ハ   やぶ to tear, break   やぶれる to get torn, broken   
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ギ    honour   
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ム   つとめる to work   つとまる to be fit for   
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カ    result   はたす to carry out   は end, extremity   はてる to come to an end   
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メイ   ミョウ   あかり light   あかるい bright   あかるむ to brighten   あからむ to become luminous (at dawn)   あきらか obvious   あかす to lay bare   あ to open   あける to empty   
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ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
ウ   あめ    あま- rain   
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シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
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シュツ   スイ   だ to take out, to put out   で to go out, to exit   
クン   きみ you   
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トウ   ト   ズ   あたま    かしら head   
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ノウ    brain   
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イ    doctor   
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シャ   もの person, someone   
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