〜ようとする
N3you 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
- ドアを開けようとしたが、鍵がかかっていて開かなかった。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。
- 家を出ようとしたとき、急に雨が降り出した。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。
- 弟は何度注意しても、部屋を片付けようとしない。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
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"
}
}