JAPANESE STUDY SYSTEMKOTOWA 词和
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SILVER ERA · ことばを、少しずつ。
JLPT BANDN5 BEGINNER → N1 ADVANCED

〜ようとする

N3
you to suru

try to; attempt to; be about to

Formation

Verb-volitional + とする

Chinese meanings

试图;正要

Chinese formation

动词意志形+とする

Chinese usage

表示试图做某事,或动作即将发生。

Chinese notes

〜ようとしない表示不肯或不打算尝试。

Examples

  • ドアを開あけようとしたが、鍵かぎがかかっていて開あかなかった。
    I tried to open the door, but it was locked and wouldn't open.
    我想开门,可门锁着,打不开。
  • 家いえを出でようとしたとき、急きゅうに雨あめが降ふり出だした。
    Just as I was about to leave the house, it suddenly started to rain.
    正要出门时,突然下起雨来。
  • 弟おとうとは何なん度ど注ちゅう意いしても、部屋へやを片かた付づけようとしない。
    No matter how many times I tell him, my younger brother won't even try to tidy his room.
    无论提醒多少次,弟弟都不肯收拾房间。

Notes

Often an attempt that fails or is interrupted. 〜ようとしない = 'won't even try' (unwillingness). Compare 〜てみる, which means actually doing something to see how it goes.

#attempt#intention

Related N3 grammar

Suggest an improvement

Use this entry in code
import { getGrammarById } from 'kotowa';
getGrammarById('you-to-suru');
{
  "id": "you-to-suru",
  "pattern": "〜ようとする",
  "romaji": "you to suru",
  "level": "N3",
  "meaning": "try to; attempt to; be about to",
  "formation": "Verb-volitional + とする",
  "examples": [
    {
      "ja": "ドアを開けようとしたが、鍵がかかっていて開かなかった。",
      "furigana": "ドアを{開|あ}けようとしたが、{鍵|かぎ}がかかっていて{開|あ}かなかった。",
      "en": "I tried to open the door, but it was locked and wouldn't open."
    },
    {
      "ja": "家を出ようとしたとき、急に雨が降り出した。",
      "furigana": "{家|いえ}を{出|で}ようとしたとき、{急|きゅう}に{雨|あめ}が{降|ふ}り{出|だ}した。",
      "en": "Just as I was about to leave the house, it suddenly started to rain."
    },
    {
      "ja": "弟は何度注意しても、部屋を片付けようとしない。",
      "furigana": "{弟|おとうと}は{何|なん}{度|ど}{注意|ちゅうい}しても、{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けようとしない。",
      "en": "No matter how many times I tell him, my younger brother won't even try to tidy his room."
    }
  ],
  "tags": [
    "attempt",
    "intention"
  ],
  "notes": "Often an attempt that fails or is interrupted. 〜ようとしない = 'won't even try' (unwillingness). Compare 〜てみる, which means actually doing something to see how it goes.",
  "zh": {
    "status": "reviewed",
    "source_hash": "534f8a962d67ae89d8f9c6828445a7ba1ddaccd66e75a3fe5c3077e8e50a2c0b",
    "meanings": [
      "试图",
      "正要"
    ],
    "formation": "动词意志形+とする",
    "explanation": "表示试图做某事,或动作即将发生。",
    "notes": "〜ようとしない表示不肯或不打算尝试。",
    "examples": [
      {
        "ja": "ドアを開けようとしたが、鍵がかかっていて開かなかった。",
        "zh": "我想开门,可门锁着,打不开。"
      },
      {
        "ja": "家を出ようとしたとき、急に雨が降り出した。",
        "zh": "正要出门时,突然下起雨来。"
      },
      {
        "ja": "弟は何度注意しても、部屋を片付けようとしない。",
        "zh": "无论提醒多少次,弟弟都不肯收拾房间。"
      }
    ],
    "references": [
      "sources/grammar/n3.json#you-to-suru",
      "Original Chinese authored and reviewed by Codex; no independent human review"
    ],
    "reviewer": "Codex",
    "review_method": "ai",
    "reviewed_at": "2026-10-28",
    "review_hash": "4064fef322308e30d104b3d8a8ee73702f1a36f796272f53c0716fe66869bf48"
  }
}