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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

ようとしない (you to shinai)

～ようとしない — “won’t even try to ～”

In short · Describes someone who does not make any attempt to do something, usually with some criticism or frustration. It attaches to the volitional form (〜よう / 〜おう) of a verb + としない. Mostly used for a third person.
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Pattern

  • 動詞意志形＋としない doesn’t make an attempt to do ～
  • 動詞意志形＋としなかった did not try to ～ (past)

Making the volitional form

Group 1: 聞く → 聞こう, 話す → 話そう. Group 2: 食べる → 食べよう, 変える → 変えよう. Irregular: する → しよう, 来る → 来よう. Then add としない.

Meaning and tone

The person refuses to take even a first step. 彼は話を聞こうとしない doesn’t mean he can’t hear; he is unwilling to try. The speaker usually feels troubled or annoyed.

Not the same as ～ようとする

～ようとする means “try to / be about to”. ～ようとしない is its negative, but it is stronger than ない alone: 食べない (doesn’t eat) vs 食べようとしない (won’t even attempt to eat).

Examples

  • 彼（かれ）は私（わたし）の話（はなし）を聞（き）こうとしない。

    Kare wa watashi no hanashi o kikou to shinai.

    He won’t even try to listen to me.

  • 何度（なんど）注意（ちゅうい）しても、彼（かれ）は習慣（しゅうかん）を変（か）えようとしない。

    Nando chuui shite mo, kare wa shuukan o kaeyou to shinai.

    No matter how many times I warn him, he won’t even try to change his habits.

  • 子（こ）どもが野菜（やさい）を食（た）べようとしなくて困（こま）っている。

    Kodomo ga yasai o tabeyou to shinakute komatte iru.

    I’m troubled because my child won’t even try to eat vegetables.

Common mistakes

  • Use the volitional form (聞こう), not the dictionary form (×聞くとしない).
  • Normally about another person. For yourself, ～ようとしなかった sounds like confession or regret.

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