Introduction
Have you ever wanted to say “Just as I was about to go to bed…” or “He won’t even try to quit” in Japanese?
For example:
- How do you say “I was about to pay when I realized my wallet was gone”?
- How do you say “No matter how hard I try to forget her, I can’t”?
- How do you complain that someone makes no attempt to do what they should?
All three come from the same JLPT N3 pattern: ～（よ）うとする, and its negative ～（よ）うとしない.
1. Meaning: What does ～（よ）うとする mean?
The volitional form (行こう、食べよう) expresses the will to do something.
Adding とする means the subject directs that will at an action—but the action itself has not been completed.
From this one idea come two main meanings and its negative form.
① Be just about to do
This use describes the moment right before an action. Typically, something interrupts, so the action never happens.
Common English translations:
- be about to ~
- just as I was going to ~
- was on the point of ~ing
Example:
寝ようとしたときに、友達からメールが来ました。
Just as I was about to go to sleep, I got a message from a friend.
② Attempt to do / try to do
This use describes an effort the subject is making to achieve something. Again, success is not guaranteed—in fact the pattern often appears exactly when the effort fails.
Common English translations:
- try to ~
- attempt to ~
- make an effort to ~
Example:
健康のために、たばこをやめようとしています。
For my health, I’m trying to quit smoking.
③ ～（よ）うとしない → won’t even try
In the negative, the pattern says that someone shows no intention of doing something they are expected or supposed to do. It carries a clear note of frustration or criticism.
Common English translations:
- won’t even try to ~
- makes no attempt to ~
- doesn’t even think about ~ing
Important: this form is normally used about other people, not about yourself. (See section 5 for the one exception.)
2. Formation
Verb (volitional form) + とする / としない
First, make the volitional form:
Group 1 (う-verbs): change the final -u to -ou
Replace the final u sound with the ou sound (e.g., -ku → -kou, -su → -sou, -bu → -bou, -mu → -mou, -ru → -rou).
- 行く (to go) → 行こう → 行こうとする
- 払う (to pay) → 払おう → 払おうとする
- 読む (to read) → 読もう → 読もうとする
Group 2 (る-verbs): replace る with よう
Remove the final ru and add you.
- 食べる (to eat) → 食べよう → 食べようとする
- 寝る (to sleep) → 寝よう → 寝ようとする
Irregular verbs
- する (to do) → しよう → しようとする
- 来る (to come) → 来よう → 来ようとする
Patterns that go with each meaning
The words around the pattern are a strong clue to which meaning you are looking at.
- Meaning ① often appears as ～（よ）うとしたとき or ～（よ）うとしたら, followed by an unexpected event.
- Meaning ② often appears as ～（よ）うとしている (an ongoing effort) or ～（よ）うとしても (“even though I try…”).
Practical tip: since the volitional form expresses will, this pattern only works with verbs you can choose to do. Verbs like できる have no volitional use here.
3. Useful Examples
① Just about to do something
Situation: John looks exhausted this morning, and Yumi asks about it.
眠そうだね。
You look sleepy.
昨日寝ようとしたら、友達から電話がかかってきて……。2時間も話しちゃったんだ。
Just as I was about to go to bed last night, a friend called… and we ended up talking for two hours.
図書館で勉強しようとしたとき、ノートを忘れたことに気がついた。
Just as I was about to study at the library, I realized I’d forgotten my notebook.
学校へ行こうとしたら、地震が起きました。
Just as I was about to leave for school, an earthquake struck.
アイスクリームを食べようとしたら、落としちゃった。
Right as I was about to eat my ice cream, I dropped it.
② Trying to do something
Situation: Emi knows Ken broke up with his girlfriend three months ago.
3カ月前に別れた彼女のこと、まだ考えているの？
Are you still thinking about the girlfriend you broke up with three months ago?
うん。忘れようとしても、忘れられないんだ。
Yeah. Even though I try to forget about her, I can’t.
友達の誕生日を思い出そうとしても、思い出せません。
No matter how hard I try to remember my friend’s birthday, I can’t.
高いところに置いてあった物を取ろうとして、椅子から落ちてしまった。
Trying to get something off a high shelf, I fell off the chair.
③ Won’t even try: ～（よ）うとしない
Situation: Saori is complaining about her son to a colleague.
うちの子ども、全然勉強しようとしないんですよ。
My kid never even thinks about studying at all.
家で宿題だけでも見てあげたらどうですか。
Why don’t you at least help him with his homework at home?
道に迷って困っている人がいたのに、だれも助けようとしなかった。
Someone was lost and in trouble, but nobody made any attempt to help.
ペットの猫が大好きな魚を食べようとしない。病気なのだろうか。
My cat won’t even touch the fish she loves. I wonder if she’s sick.
父は病気なのに、たばこをやめようとしません。
My father is ill, yet he won’t even try to quit smoking.
4. Related grammar (comparison)
～ところだ
Vる + ところだ also means “about to do,” but it simply states where you are in a sequence.
～（よ）うとする adds the sense that you were physically starting the action, and usually something got in the way.
- 今から出かけるところです。= I’m about to head out now. (a neutral report)
- 出かけようとしたところに、客が来た。= Just as I was heading out, a visitor arrived.
～つもりだ
つもりだ states an intention or plan that exists in your mind.
～（よ）うとする describes an effort that is already underway.
- 来年、引っ越すつもりです。= I plan to move next year. (a decision)
- 新しい部屋を探そうとしています。= I’m trying to find a new apartment. (already working on it)
～（よ）うとしない vs ～ない
A plain negative just reports a fact.
Adding ようとしない adds the judgment that the person should be doing it but refuses to.
Compare:
- 弟は野菜を食べない。= My little brother doesn’t eat vegetables.
- 弟は野菜を食べようとしない。= My little brother won’t even try to eat vegetables. (frustration)
5. Common Mistake: ～（よ）うとする vs. ～ようにする
These two look almost identical, and both can be translated as “try to.” Remember this golden rule:
- ～（よ）うとする: a single attempt at one moment. Focus on the try itself, which may fail.
- ～ようにする: an ongoing policy you keep. “Make a point of ~ing.”
Example: I make sure to look up any word I don’t know.
- ✅ Correct: わからない単語を見たら、すぐに調べるようにしています。(A habit I keep.)
- ❌ Incorrect: わからない単語を見たら、すぐに調べようとしています。
Example: I tried to open the window, but it wouldn’t open.
- ✅ Correct: 窓を開けようとしたが、開かなかった。(One attempt, which failed.)
- ❌ Incorrect: 窓を開けるようにしたが、開かなかった。
One more caution: don’t use ～（よ）うとしない about yourself now
Because the form implies criticism of someone who won’t do their duty, it sounds strange applied to your own present state.
- ❌ 私は宿題をしようとしない。
- ✅ 私は宿題をしたくない。／ なかなか宿題が始められない。
It is natural, however, when you look back on your past self objectively: 私は高校生の時、新聞を読もうとしなかった。しかし、大学に入り、政治に興味を持つようになってから、毎日読んでいる。
6. Practice
Translate the following into Japanese using ～（よ）うとする or ～（よ）うとしない.
| Clue | Example Answer |
|---|---|
| Just as I was about to pay at the convenience store, I realized my wallet was gone. | コンビニでお金を払おうとした時、財布がないことに気がついた。 |
| I heard Maria is trying to get a job at a Japanese company. | マリアさんは日本の会社に就職しようとしているらしいよ。 |
| No matter how much I tell him to study, Taro won’t even try. | 勉強しなさいと言っても、太郎は勉強しようとしない。 |
| My son won’t listen to what his parents say, so I’m at a loss. | うちの息子は親の言うことを聞こうとしないので、困っています。 |
7. FAQ
- QHow do I tell the two meanings apart?
- A
Look at the form and the time frame.
Past tense plus とき／たら, followed by a sudden event, is almost always “about to”: 電車に乗ろうとしたとき、ドアが閉まった。
The ～ている form, or ～ても followed by “but I can’t,” signals “try to”: 早く寝ようとしても、眠れない。
- QCan I use this pattern with any verb?
- A
No. The volitional form expresses will, so the verb has to be an action someone can choose to take.
Verbs of ability or existence (できる、ある、見える) don’t work: ❌ 日本語ができようとする。
For abilities, use ～ようになる instead: 日本語が話せるようになりたい。
- QIs ～（よ）うとしない rude?
- A
It is not rude in itself, but it does carry criticism, so be careful who you use it about.
It is very natural for family members, children, or pets, and in complaints about a general situation. Said directly to a customer or a superior, it would sound accusatory.
Note also that it describes someone who makes no attempt, not someone who simply cannot manage. For the latter, use the potential form: 弟は泳げない。
Conclusion
In this article, you learned that ～（よ）うとする has two main meanings—“be just about to do” and “attempt to do”—and that the negative ～（よ）うとしない means “won’t even try.”
With this grammar, you can now:
- describe the moment something interrupted you,
- talk about efforts that didn’t quite work out,
- and tell ～（よ）うとする apart from ～ようにする, ～ところだ, and ～つもりだ.
