Expresses that something happens despite a condition that would normally lead to a different result: 'despite / in spite of / even though'. It is a formal concessive expression, stronger and stiffer than のに, and often carries a nuance of surprise or the speaker's dissatisfaction at the unexpected outcome.
[Noun / Plain form / な-adj (である)] + にもかかわらず
雨にもかかわらず、大勢の人が集まった。
Ame ni mo kakawarazu, oozei no hito ga atsumatta.
In spite of the rain, a large crowd gathered.
Noun 雨 + にもかかわらず — the crowd came despite the rain
努力したにもかかわらず、試験に落ちた。
Doryoku shita ni mo kakawarazu, shiken ni ochita.
Despite having worked hard, I failed the exam.
Plain past form + にもかかわらず shows an unexpected negative result
彼は病気であるにもかかわらず、出勤した。
Kare wa byouki de aru ni mo kakawarazu, shukkin shita.
Even though he was ill, he came to work.
な-adj/Noun + である + にもかかわらず in a formal register
• Register: formal/written; more emphatic than のに. • Often conveys surprise or dissatisfaction at the unexpected outcome. • Do not confuse with にかかわらず ('regardless of'), which lists options rather than concedes a fact.
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones にもかかわらず is tested against.
のに is the everyday 'even though' with an emotional (often complaining) tone; にもかかわらず is more formal, objective, and emphatic.
にかかわらず means 'regardless of / irrespective of' (options don't matter), while にもかかわらず means 'despite (this specific fact)'.
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