Posted inN3 Grammar

Mastering JLPT N3 Grammar: 「ようとしない」 (You to Shinai) – The Stubborn Refusal

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Expresses that someone or something refuses to do something, or does not make an effort/show intention to do something.

🎯 Primary Function

To describe the lack of willingness, effort, or natural tendency of a subject (person, animal, or even inanimate object/phenomenon) to perform an action.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (Volitional Form) + としない

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal contexts, especially when describing situations or reporting on people’s behavior objectively.

😊 Informal Situations

Commonly used in informal conversation to describe people’s stubbornness or reluctance.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently seen in writing, such as articles, reports, and literature, to describe situations or character traits.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in spoken Japanese to express frustration, observation, or description of someone’s or something’s state/action.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing a person’s stubbornness or unwillingness.
Used when someone clearly does not want to do something or is refusing to try.
Example: 彼はアドバイスを聞こうとしない。 (Kare wa adobaisu o kikou to shinai.) – He doesn’t try to listen to advice (He refuses to listen to advice).
Describing the lack of progress or change in a situation or object.
Can be used for things that seem unwilling or unable to change or move.
Example: このドアはどうしても開こうとしない。 (Kono doa wa doushitemo akou to shinai.) – No matter what, this door won’t open (doesn’t try to open).
Referring to natural phenomena or machines that are not behaving as expected.
Used anthropomorphically for non-human subjects that seem to “refuse” to function or change.
Example: 最近、パソコンが言うことを聞こうとしない。 (Saikin, pasokon ga iu koto o kikou to shinai.) – Lately, my computer isn’t trying to obey (isn’t working properly).
📊
Frequency
Fairly common, especially when discussing difficulties involving people or stubborn problems.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N3
Example Sentences
子供は薬を飲もうとしない。
The child won’t try to take the medicine (refuses to take the medicine).
彼女は自分の間違いを認めようとしなかった。
She wouldn’t try to admit her mistake (refused to admit her mistake).
いくら押しても、このボタンは動こうとしない。
No matter how much I push, this button won’t try to move (refuses to move).
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Subject’s Will or Lack of Effort
This pattern focuses on the subject’s lack of intention, willingness, or effort to perform the action, rather than simply their inability.
Example: 彼は泳げない。(Kare wa oyogenai.) – He cannot swim (lack of ability). vs. 彼は泳ごうとしない。(Kare wa oyogou to shinai.) – He won’t try to swim (lack of willingness/effort).
Applicable to Inanimate Objects
Can be used anthropomorphically for non-human subjects like machines, doors, or natural phenomena to describe their lack of expected function or movement.
Example: 車がどうしてもエンジンがかかろうとしない。(Kuruma ga doushitemo enjin ga kakarou to shinai.) – No matter what, the car’s engine won’t try to start.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using with simple inability
✅ Use the potential form (〜できない) instead of 〜ようとしない when the issue is simply lack of ability.
ようとしない implies a lack of will or effort, not physical inability.
❌ Confusing with 〜ない for simple negation
✅ 〜ようとしない adds the nuance of refusing or not making an effort, which 〜ない does not.
食べる (taberu – eat) vs. 食べない (tabenai – doesn’t eat) vs. 食べようとしない (tabeyou to shinai – won’t try to eat / refuses to eat).

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Generally neutral. When describing a person’s behavior, it can sometimes sound critical depending on context and tone.
Social Situations: Used in various social situations to describe people’s character or stubbornness, or to explain difficulties with objects/situations.
Regional Variations: Standard grammar, no significant regional variations in meaning or form.

🔍 Subtle Differences

〜ようとしない vs 〜ない
〜ない is simple negation. 〜ようとしない implies a lack of intention, effort, or refusal.
When to use: Use 〜ない for simple “does not do”. Use 〜ようとしない when the subject *could* potentially do it but is unwilling or not making the effort.
〜ようとしない vs 〜たがらない
〜たがらない is used for third parties and expresses their *desire* (or lack thereof). 〜ようとしない focuses on their *intention* or *effort* (or lack thereof). 〜たがらない is only for living beings with desires.
When to use: Use 〜たがらない when talking about someone else’s *lack of desire*. Use 〜ようとしない when talking about someone’s *lack of intention/effort/refusal*, or for inanimate objects.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

The pattern uses the volitional form (also known as the presumptive form) of the verb, followed by としない.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounce ようと (you to) smoothly, almost like “yoh-toh”. しない (shinai) is standard negative form pronunciation.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 「よう」 as “let’s/will” (volitional/intention) and 「としない」 as “doesn’t/won’t try”. So, “won’t try to [do the action]”.

Practice Exercises
山田さんは新しい方法を（　　）としていない。
使う
使わない
使おう
使える
この機械は古すぎて、もう（　　）としない。
動ける
動こう
動かない
動いた
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