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ようとしない (you to shinai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Not Make An Effort To

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article 'ようとしない (you to shinai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Not Make An Effort To'

Anna Baffa Volpe

The structure ようとしない (you to shinai) means not willing to, not attempt to, not make effort to or not intend to.

It is a useful expression in combination with the Volitional form we review in this post.

The relatd structure is ようとする which is the affirmative form.


How ようとしない is formed

We use the Volitional form of the verb ending in う/よう + としない.

In the case of Verbs Ichidan:

Verb without る+ようとしない
決める
決め
決め
決めようとしない

Unwilling to decide or Refusing to decide, don't / doesn't want to decide

With the Verbs Godan:

Verbal base ending in お or B5+うとしない
書く
 書
書こうとしない

don't / doesn't want to write, refusing to write

Irregulars verbs:

  • する becomes しようとしない
  • ()る ⇨ ()ようとしない

How and when ようとしない is used

Let's explain 2 characteristics of the structure through 2 japanese sentences:

「それをする()()ちが(ぜん)(ぜん)ない」という()()です。

It means not having desire to do that at all.

()(ぶん)のことには使(つか)いません。

I don't use it for myself.

()(ぶん) jibun is a widely used noun and means oneself, myself

This structure is used with a Volitional verb to say that there is neither will nor efforts to do the action.

As expressed in the Japanese sentence, this form is used for other people's things and situations, not in the first person.

...

()(じょ)(おこ)っているから、(だれ)(はなし)()こうとしない。

She is angry and doesn't want to listen to anyone.

The following sentence contains the same structure using the verb (おも)think, in the negative form (おも)わない I don't think I will...

(せい)(かく)()えようと(おも)わない。

I don't want to change my personality.

うちの()は、()()()っても(べん)(きょう)しようとしない。

My child does not want to study, no matter how many times I tell him.

There is another more articulate structure that is used instead of ようとしない, it is expressed by 「まったく〜する(よう)()がない」.

  • まったく is an adverb that combined with the negative form of the verb means not at all.
  • (よう)()yōsu indicates the situation, the state and also the appearancedoesn't seem to want to do, doesn't want to do at all

まったく(べん)(きょう)する(よう)()がない。

He doesn't seem to study at all.

Sentences from an article about Hikikomori

From an article about the Hikikomori, a form of social withdrawal or social isolation in one's home. The word 引き籠り Hikikomori means pulling inward, being confined. Hikikomori can refer both to this phenomenon as well as the recluses themselves.

jpanesegrammar
ひきこもりの現実, the reality of Hikikomori

(せい)(しん)()()()たひきこもりの(げん)(じつ)

The reality of Hikikomori as seen by a Psychiatrist.

psychologist and Psychiatrist, (しん)()(がく)(しゃ) shinri gakusha(せい)(しん)()() seishinkai

  • (しん)() shinri, litterally means the reasons of the heart or the reasons of the mind and refers to the state of the mind, the psicology and (がく)(しゃ) gakusha, academic, scientist ⇨ Psychologist
  • (せい)(しん) seishin, spirit, mind, () branch of study, () medicine, doctor ⇨ Psychiatrist Here is the sentences containing the grammar structure learnt in this post:
japanesegrammar
引き籠り, Hikikomori, long-term social withdrawal

(しん)(こく)なケースでは、トイレやシャワーを使(つか)()(がい)、まったく()()から()ようとしない。

In serious cases, they don't leave the room at all, except to use the toilet or the shower.

Examples of ようとしない

A

()(じょ)にちゃんと(せつ)(めい)した?

Did you explain it to her properly?

B

(もち)(ろん)。でも、ぼくの(はな)()こうとしないんだ。

Of course, but she doesn't want to listen to me.

(となり)(うち)(ひと)(あい)(さつ)をしても、(かえ)そうとしない。

Even if we greet our neighbour, he does not return our greetings.

(たい)()された(はん)(にん)(なに)(しつ)(もん)しても(こた)えようとしない。

The arrested criminal doesn't want to answer, no matter what questions you ask him.

アドバイスしているのに、(だれ)(わたし)のアドバイスを()いて(じっ)(せん)しようとしない。

I give advice, but nobody wants to listen to my advice and put it into practice.