ようとしない

Refuse to

Level 3Sounds Like youtoshinai

The pattern 〜ようとしない is used to express that someone (usually a third person) refuses to do something or shows no intention of even trying. It often carries a nuance of frustration or criticism from the speaker.

How It Works

1. Formation
To use this pattern, conjugate the verb into its Volitional Form and add としない.

  • Group 1 (U-verbs): Change the final vowel to the 'o' row and add 'u'.
    Example: 書く（かく）→ 書こう + としない
  • Group 2 (Ru-verbs): Remove 'ru' and add 'you'.
    Example: 食べる（たべる）→ 食べよう + としない
  • Group 3 (Irregular):
    する → しよう + としない
    来る（くる）→ 来よう（こよう） + としない

2. Nuance and Usage
Unlike a simple negative like 〜ない, which just states a fact, 〜ようとしない emphasizes the will or attitude of the subject. It suggests that the person is actively not trying or is ignoring a request/necessity.

3. Emphatic Variation: 〜ようともしない
A stronger version of this pattern is 〜ようともしない. By adding the particle も, the meaning changes to "doesn't even try to" or "doesn't show the slightest intention of." This variation is often used to express stronger criticism or surprise at someone's complete lack of effort.

4. Subject Restrictions
This pattern is almost exclusively used for third-person subjects (he, she, they, the dog, etc.). You generally do not use it for yourself because you know your own internal reasons for not doing something. For yourself, you would use 〜つもりはない (I don't intend to) or 〜たくない (I don't want to).

5. Inanimate Objects
Interestingly, this can be used for machines or objects that 'refuse' to work as expected, personifying them. For example, a car that 'won't start' despite your efforts.

Examples (4)

  1. 彼は自分のミスを認めようとしない。

    He refuses to acknowledge his own mistake.

    Word by Word: He (topic) own mistake (object) acknowledge-volitional (quotation) do-not.

    This implies he is stubbornly avoiding admitting he was wrong, despite it being obvious.

  2. 息子はいくら言っても、野菜を食べようとしない。

    No matter how much I tell him, my son won't [even try to] eat vegetables.

    Word by Word: Son (topic) no-matter-how-much say-even-if, vegetables (object) eat-volitional (quotation) do-not.

    The speaker is expressing frustration at the son's refusal to even attempt eating vegetables.

  3. パソコンが古くて、なかなか起動しようとしない。

    The computer is old and just won't start up.

    Word by Word: PC (subject) old-and, quite start-up-volitional (quotation) do-not.

    Here, the pattern is used for an inanimate object (the computer) that is 'stubbornly' failing to function.

  4. 彼女は理由を話そうとしなかった。

    She wouldn't [try to] tell me the reason.

    Word by Word: She (topic) reason (object) speak-volitional (quotation) did-not-do.

    Using the past tense (としなかった) describes a specific instance where someone refused to act.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the pattern for your own actions (first person).

    私は宿題をしようとしない。
    私は宿題をするつもりはない。

    Using 〜ようとしない for yourself sounds like you are observing your own body refusing to move. Use 〜つもりはない to express your own lack of intention.

  • Confusing it with 'doesn't want to' (〜たがらない).

    彼は学校に行こうとしない。(When meaning he just dislikes it)
    彼は学校に行きたがらない。

    〜たがる focuses on the subject's internal feelings or desires. 〜ようとしない focuses on the visible refusal to act. If someone 'doesn't want to go' but goes anyway, you use 〜たがらない. If they actually refuse to move, you use 〜ようとしない.

How It Connects

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

ようとしないLevel 3Refuse to

Learn This First

ようとしない is used to describe a third person's lack of effort or refusal to do something. To understand it, you must first know how to conjugate verbs into the volitional form (意向形) and understand the base pattern ようとする, which expresses an attempt or intention to act.

Words in This Pattern

とする