うにも〜ない

Cannot, However Much

Level 5Sounds Like unimo~nai

The pattern うにも〜ない (or ようにも〜ない) is used when you have the will or desire to perform an action, but a physical or situational obstacle prevents you from doing so. It emphasizes frustration or a dilemma: 'Even if I wanted to, I can't.'

How It Works

1. Formation:
To form this expression, use the Volitional Form of the verb, followed by にも, and then the Potential Negative Form of the same verb.

  • Group 1: 行こう（いこう）にも行けない（いけない）
  • Group 2: 食べよう（たべよう）にも食べられない（たべられない）
  • Group 3: しようにもできない / 来よう（こよう）にも来られない（こられない）

2. Nuance and Usage:
Unlike a simple 'cannot' (〜ことができない), this pattern implies that the speaker wants to do the action but is 'stuck.' It is often used for physical barriers (like snow or traffic) or situational barriers (like having too much work).

3. Variations:
While the same verb is usually repeated, the second part can sometimes be a different phrase that expresses impossibility, such as 〜ようがない (no way to do) or 方法がない (no method).

Examples (4)

  1. 帰ろうにも、雪で電車が止まっていて帰れない。

    Even if I wanted to go home, I can't because the trains are stopped due to snow.

    Word by Word: Go home (volitional) even if, by snow trains stopped and cannot go home.

    The speaker has the intention to go home, but the snow is an external physical obstacle preventing it.

  2. 仕事が山積みで、休もうにも休めない状況だ。

    Work is piled up, so I'm in a situation where I can't take a break even if I want to.

    Word by Word: Work (subject) mountain-pile, rest (volitional) even if cannot rest situation is.

    Here, the 'mountain of work' is the situational obstacle preventing the speaker from resting.

  3. 連絡しようにも、彼の電話番号が分からない。

    Even if I wanted to contact him, I don't know his phone number.

    Word by Word: Contact do (volitional) even if, his phone number (object) do not know.

    This shows that the second part of the pattern doesn't always have to be the potential negative of the same verb; it can be any phrase expressing impossibility.

  4. 鍵を失くしてしまい、家に入ろうにも入れない。

    I lost my keys, so even if I want to enter the house, I can't.

    Word by Word: Keys (object) lost (regret), house into enter (volitional) even if cannot enter.

    The loss of the keys is the specific reason why the desire to enter the house cannot be fulfilled.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the plain negative instead of the potential negative.

    行こうにも行かない。
    行こうにも行けない。

    The second verb must express inability (Potential Negative). Using the plain negative '行かない' implies a choice not to go, which contradicts the 'wanting to go' nuance of the volitional form.

  • Using it for simple inability without 'will' or 'desire'.

    この時計は壊れているから、動こうにも動かない。
    この時計は壊れているから、動かない。

    Since a watch doesn't have its own 'will' to move, using the volitional form '動こう' sounds unnatural unless you are personifying the watch.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

うにも〜ないLevel 5Cannot, However Much

Learn This First

To understand 'うにも〜ない', you need to know how to conjugate verbs into the volitional form (意向形) and the potential negative form. The structure literally translates to 'even if I try to [volitional], I cannot [negative potential]', expressing a situation where one wants to do something but is prevented by circumstances.

Words in This Pattern

う