ようとする

Try To/about to

Level 3Sounds Like youtosuru

The pattern 〜ようとする is used for two main purposes: 1) Making a physical or mental effort to start an action ("try to"), or 2) Describing something that is on the verge of occurring ("about to").

How It Works

This structure is essential for describing actions at their starting point. It is formed by attaching とする to the volitional form of a verb.

1. Attempting an Action:
When the subject is a person, it expresses that they are trying to perform an action. Unlike てみる (which means to try something to see the result), 〜ようとする focuses on the effort to even begin the action.
Example: 食べようとする (Try to eat it / Attempt to eat it).

2. Imminent Change / On the Verge:
This indicates that an action or change is just about to happen. It can be used for natural phenomena (the sun setting) or for people being on the brink of an action.
Example: お風呂に入ろうとしている (About to enter the bath).

3. Refusal with 〜ようとしない:
The negative form ようとしない is used to describe a third party's refusal or complete lack of intention to do something. It implies that the person is making no effort at all.
Example: 子供が野菜を食べようとしない (The child refuses to/won't try to eat vegetables).

4. Common Conjugations:

  • 〜ようとする: The general form (about to/try to).
  • 〜ようとしている: Emphasizes the state of being on the brink of the action.
  • 〜ようとした: An attempt that happened in the past, often followed by が or けれど to show it failed or was interrupted.

Examples (5)

  1. 出かけようとした時、雨が降り出した。

    Just as I was about to go out, it started to rain.

    Word by Word: Go out (volitional) + try + did + time, rain + subject + fall + started.

    Here, the action of 'going out' was just about to start when it was interrupted by rain.

  2. ドアを開けようとしたが、鍵がかかっていました。

    I tried to open the door, but it was locked.

    Word by Word: Door + object + open (volitional) + try + did + but, key + subject + was hanging.

    This shows a physical attempt that was unsuccessful because the door was locked.

  3. 新しいことを始めようとする時は、誰でも不安だ。

    When trying to start something new, anyone feels anxious.

    Word by Word: New + thing + object + start (volitional) + try + time + topic, anyone + even + anxious + is.

    This describes the mental and physical effort of initiating a new project or habit.

  4. 日が沈もうとしています。

    The sun is about to set.

    Word by Word: Sun + subject + sink (volitional) + try + is.

    Using the progressive form with a natural phenomenon indicates an imminent change.

  5. 彼は私の質問に答えようとしなかった。

    He wouldn't try to answer my question.

    Word by Word: He + topic, my + possessive, question + target, answer (volitional) + try + did not.

    The negative form ようとしない is used to show a complete lack of effort or a refusal to act.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the dictionary form instead of the volitional form.

    行くとする
    行こうとする

    This pattern strictly requires the volitional form. Using the dictionary form changes the meaning entirely (often to 'suppose that...').

  • Using this pattern for long-term habits or resolutions.

    毎日勉強しようとする。
    毎日勉強するようにする。

    For habits or repeated efforts, use ようにする. 〜ようとする is for a single, immediate attempt.

How It Connects

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

ようとするLevel 3Try To/about to

Learn This First

To understand 'ようとする', you must first know how to conjugate verbs into the volitional form (意向形). This pattern combines that form with the particle 'と' and the verb 'する' to express that someone is attempting to do something or that an event is just about to happen.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

とする