ようとしない

ようとしない means does not try to. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to say someone makes no effort or refuses to do something.

This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to say someone makes no effort or refuses to do something, ようとしない is a useful pattern to learn.

What does ようとしない mean?

Use ようとしない when you want to say someone makes no effort or refuses to do something.

Natural translations include:

• does not try to
• makes no effort to
• refuses to

How to form ようとしない

Verb volitional form + としない

Examples of the pattern:

• 話そうとしない
• 聞こうとしない
• 謝ろうとしない

When is ようとしない used?

Use ようとしない in situations like:

• explaining grammar in context
• answering JLPT reading questions
• making natural Japanese sentences

Tone and register:

• neutral
• Common in JLPT reading, grammar questions, and natural Japanese sentences

ようとしない example sentences

• 彼は理由を話そうとしない。 — He does not try to explain the reason.
• 子供は野菜を食べようとしない。 — The child will not try to eat vegetables.
• 彼女は自分の間違いを認めようとしない。 — She does not try to admit her mistake.
• 何度言っても、彼は聞こうとしない。 — No matter how many times I say it, he does not try to listen.
• 弟は謝ろうとしなかった。 — My younger brother did not try to apologize.

Nuance of ようとしない

The key nuance is a refusal or complete lack of effort rather than a simple negation.

This matters because learners often translate advanced grammar too literally. A pattern may look simple, but it can signal the writer’s attitude or the relationship between two ideas.

For example:

• In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
• Compared with ない, it has a different focus and level of formality.

ようとしない vs ない

Both ようとしない and ない can appear in related situations, but they are different.

ようとしない:

• means does not try to
• emphasizes that someone is not even attempting the action

ない:

• simply negates an action
• does not carry the extra meaning of refusal or lack of effort

Quick contrast examples:

• 彼は理由を話そうとしない。 — He does not try to explain the reason.
• 彼は理由を話さない。 — He does not explain the reason.

If both translations seem possible, check whether the speaker wants to stress a lack of attempt. That extra layer of meaning often tells you which grammar point is natural.

Common mistakes with ようとしない

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using ようとしない with the wrong verb form
• Confusing ようとしない with plain negation (ない)
• Translating it too literally instead of reading the whole sentence

Is ようとしない on the JLPT?

Yes. ようとしない is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning.

Practice questions for ようとしない

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Write one sentence using ようとしない.
• Contrast ようとしない with ない.
• Make a JLPT-style sentence where the context makes the meaning clear.

Learning path for ようとしない

To learn ようとしない efficiently, review volitional forms first, then contrast intention, attempt, refusal, and plans that changed.

1. First, make sure you can form ようとしない without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with ようとする and つもりで. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write sentences about trying, being about to do something, or deciding not to act; then check whether replacing ようとしない with つもりだった changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• ようとする — the positive counterpart: “try to do something”
• つもりで — expressing intention or planned action
• つもりだった — describing a past intention or plan
• つもり — the basic N5 pattern for intention

Learn ようとしない with Hane

If you want to review ようとしない together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

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