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〜ともなく・〜ともなしに

without meaning to, idly; (from) somewhere or other

Verb dictionary form + ともなく · Question word (+ particle) + ともなく

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ともなく describes an action done idly, without a clear intention: 見るともなくテレビを見ていた, "I was idly watching TV". The verb is usually repeated: 見るともなく見る, 聞くともなく聞く, 考えるともなく考える.

With a question word, it means "some … or other": どこからともなく, "from somewhere or other". 誰に言うともなく means "to no one in particular".

ともなしに means the same. It's literary and descriptive, common in novels.

Compare ことなく (N2), "without doing", which states that something didn't happen at all. With ともなく, the action does happen, just without intent. It paints a relaxed, absent-minded scene, which is why novelists like it.

Examples

  • 見みるともなくテレビを見みていた。

    I was idly watching TV.

  • 聞きくともなく、隣となりの人ひとの話はなしが耳みみに入はいった。

    Without really meaning to listen, I overheard the people next to me.

  • どこからともなく、いい匂においがしてきた。

    A nice smell came wafting from somewhere or other.

  • 考かんがえるともなく、昔むかしのことを考かんがえていた。

    I found myself idly thinking about the past.

  • 彼かれは誰だれに言いうともなく、「疲つかれた」とつぶやいた。

    He muttered "I'm tired" to no one in particular.

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