ともなく
Without clearly intending to / Vaguely / Half-consciously Used to express that an action happens without a clear intention, purpose, or strong awareness.
N1
Meaning
Without clearly intending to / Vaguely / Half-consciously Used to express that an action happens without a clear intention, purpose, or strong awareness.
Formation
Verb (dictionary form) + ともなく
Explanation
ともなく describes an action that is done without conscious intention or without a clear purpose.
The speaker did not plan the action seriously.
It happens naturally, casually, or absent-mindedly, and often leads to an unexpected result.
Key nuance:
The action is not deliberate
There is no strong will or decision
Often followed by:
noticing something
realizing something
discovering information
Tone is:
calm
descriptive
neutral
Common in:
written narratives
essays
JLPT N1 reading passages
This grammar focuses on the mental state of the speaker — doing something “just because” or “without thinking much”.