～をよそに – Despite… / Paying no attention to…

Type	Structure with ～をよそに	Example structure	Usage notes
Noun	N + をよそに	親の反対をよそに、彼女と結婚した。	Mainly combines with nouns denoting other people’s expectations, concerns, opinions, admonitions, or circumstances.
Variant	N + をよそにして	周囲の期待をよそにして、彼は自分の道を行く。	The form with して is less common; the shorter をよそに is standard.
Nominal phrase	N + をよそに + V	世間の批判をよそに計画を続行した。	Often co-occurs with volitional human action verbs.

In spite of/ignoring/disregarding N: the person/group acts as if N (objections, worries, expectations, warnings, public opinion, etc.) did not exist.
Evaluative nuance: implies criticism or surprise at “turning a deaf ear” to something that should be heeded.
Scope of use: mainly describes the behavior of others/third parties; limited use for oneself in formal contexts (using it for oneself easily sounds like boasting “in defiance of everything”).
Not used for spontaneous natural phenomena: it must be a volitional action. Avoid saying “天気をよそに雨が降った”.
Formal/written; close in meaning to ～もかまわず but emphasizes “ignoring the reactions around” rather than “not minding inconvenience”.

親の心配をよそに、彼は海外へ一人旅に出た。
Despite his parents’ worries, he went on a solo trip abroad.
世間の非難をよそに、その企業は事業を拡大し続けた。
Despite public criticism, that company continued to expand its business.
医者の忠告をよそに、彼は無理なトレーニングを続けている。
Ignoring the doctor’s advice, he continues to train excessively.
家族の反対をよそに、二人は同棲を始めた。
Ignoring their family’s opposition, the two began living together.
台風接近の警報をよそに、一部の登山者は入山を強行した。
Despite warnings of an approaching typhoon, some climbers pushed ahead with the ascent.
周囲の期待をよそに、彼女は大企業への就職ではなく起業を選んだ。
Ignoring the expectations around her, she chose to start a business instead of joining a major corporation.

Common nouns: 親の心配・家族の反対・周囲の期待・世間の批判/非難・医者の忠告・危険/リスク・規則/ルール.
Connection: After ～をよそに comes a clause of intentional action (～する/～続ける/～強行する...).
Critical/detached tone: the speaker adopts an observing, evaluative stance.
High written register; suitable for essays, journalism, news.

Pattern	Meaning	Key differences	Short example
～をよそに	In spite of, ignoring (others’ expectations/concerns/admonitions)	Emphasizes “ignoring the voices around,” with a critical nuance.	親の反対をよそに進学。
～もかまわず	Not minding (inconvenience/rules)	More neutral; the object need not be the “voices around” you.	人目もかまわず泣く。
～をものともせず	Undaunted by (difficulties/dangers)	Admiring tone; expresses strong will.	困難をものともせず挑戦する。
～にもかかわらず	Although/Despite (a result contrary to expectation)	A clause-linking construction; does not imply “deliberately ignoring”.	雨にもかかわらず開催。

“よそ” originally means “another place/outsider,” from which it shifts to “set aside, treat as unrelated”.
In news writing, it often co-occurs with 強行する・続行する・押し切る, creating a critical tone.
When you want to praise perseverance, choose ～をものともせず instead of ～をよそに to avoid a negative nuance.

Using it with natural phenomena: Wrong. It must be a volitional action. × 雨をよそに降った → √ 雨にもかかわらず試合を行った。
Inappropriate N content: Avoid neutral Ns like 気温, 数字 unless they imply “voices/warnings”.
Using it for oneself in formal contexts can be taken as self-aggrandizing; consider point of view.
Confusing it with ～もかまわず: the latter emphasizes “not minding inconvenience,” not “ignoring others’ opinions”.