～ようとしない
Show no attempt or willingness to do something
You’ll be able to say that someone does not even try, make an effort, or show willingness to act.
蓮は何度声をかけられても、寝袋を畳もうとしません。
ren wa nando koe o kakerarete mo, nebukuro o tatamou to shimasen.
What do you think this sentence means?
No matter how many times he is told, Ren shows no willingness to fold up his sleeping bag.
Show complete lack of effort or willingness to act
～ようとしない combines the volitional verb form with としない. It describes a third party showing zero intention or willingness to carry out an expected action ("refuses to...", "shows no willingness to...").
猫がご飯を食べようとしない。
neko ga gohan o tabeyou to shinai.
The cat won’t even try to eat its food.
父は熱があっても、病院へ行こうとしない。
chichi wa netsu ga atte mo, byouin e ikou to shinai.
Even with a fever, my father refuses to go to the hospital.
Attach としない to the volitional form
Conjugate the verb into its volitional form and attach としない (or としなかった). It is used for third parties, not the speaker's own first-person actions.
彼は周りのアドバイスを聞こうとしない。
kare wa mawari no adobaisu o kikou to shinai.
He shows no willingness to listen to the advice of those around him.
～ない vs ～ようとしない
A plain negative just says someone doesn’t do it. ～ようとしない says they won’t even try, although it is expected of them, so it usually carries the speaker’s frustration.
～ない, doesn't
弟は野菜を食べない。
otouto wa yasai o tabenai.
My younger brother doesn't eat vegetables.
A plain fact.
～ようとしない, won't even try to
弟は野菜を食べようとしない。
otouto wa yasai o tabeyou to shinai.
My younger brother won't even try to eat vegetables.
No effort, despite being expected to; sounds frustrated.
息子はゲームに夢中で、何度呼んでも返事をしようとしない。
musuko wa geemu ni muchuu de, nando yonde mo henji o shiyou to shinai.
My son is so absorbed in his game that he won’t even try to answer, no matter how many times I call him.
父はスマホの使い方を覚えようとしないで、いつも私に聞いてくる。
chichi wa sumaho no tsukaikata o oboeyou to shinaide, itsumo watashi ni kiite kuru.
My father makes no effort to learn how to use his smartphone and always asks me instead.
新しく入った同僚は、分からないことがあっても、周りに聞こうとしません。
atarashiku haitta douryou wa, wakaranai koto ga atte mo, mawari ni kikou to shimasen.
Our new coworker won’t even try to ask anyone around them, even when there is something they don’t understand.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.