modality N3 common casualpolitewritten
〜ようとしない — won't even try to ~
〜ようとしない ・ ようとしない
Builds on 意向形
Meaning
- won't (even) try to ~ / makes no attempt to ~ — describes someone's stubborn refusal or unwillingness to act
Key sentence
子供が野菜を食べようとしない。
The child won't even try to eat vegetables.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb volitional form + としない | V(よ)う + としない | 聞こうとしない / 認めようとしない |
Examples
彼は自分の間違いを認めようとしない。
He won't admit his own mistake.
何度誘っても、彼女は出かけようとしなかった。
No matter how often I invited her, she wouldn't go out.
Easily confused with
Notes
- Usually describes a third party's willful unwillingness, often with a tone of exasperation. The subject is volitional, so it doesn't fit non-controllable verbs (×雨が降ろうとしない).
See 〜ようとしない in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜ようとしない the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.