JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 21

～ようとする

Try to do something, or be just about to act or change

You’ll be able to use the volitional form + とする to distinguish an attempt to act from an action or change that is just about to happen.

Illustration of the scene described by Just as I was about to light the campfire, a strong wind started to blow.
Read it first

たき火びに火ひをつけようとした時とき、強つよい風かぜが吹ふいてきました。

takibi ni hi o tsukeyou to shita toki, tsuyoi kaze ga fuite kimashita.

What do you think this sentence means?

Just as I was about to light the campfire, a strong wind started to blow.

Why it means that

Be about to act or make an attempt

～ようとする combines the volitional verb form with とする. It expresses being on the very brink of beginning an action ("about to...") or attempting to do something.

Examples

窓まどを開あけようとしたが、開あかなかった。

mado o akeyou to shita ga, akanakatta.

I tried to open the window, but it would not open.

太陽たいようが沈しずもうとしている。

taiyou ga shizumou to shite iru.

The sun is about to set.

How it is built

Attach とする to the volitional form

Conjugate the verb into its plain volitional form (～(よ)う) and attach とする (or としている, とした時とき).

verb (volitional form)+とする／としている
Example

子犬こいぬが庭にわの柵さくを飛とび越こえようとしている。

koinu ga niwa no saku o tobikoeyou to shite iru.

The puppy is trying to leap over the garden fence.

Compare

～てみる vs ～ようとする

Both can be translated “try”. ～てみる means you actually did it to see what it was like. ～ようとする means you made an attempt or were about to act, and often it did not happen.

  • ～てみる, try (and do it)

    その箱はこを持もち上あげてみた。

    sono hako o mochiagete mita.

    I tried lifting the box (I actually did it).

    The action happened.

  • ～ようとする, attempt to

    その箱はこを持もち上あげようとした。

    sono hako o mochiageyou to shita.

    I tried to lift the box (but maybe could not).

    An attempt; the result is open.

Examples

電車でんしゃのドアが閉しまろうとした時とき、男おとこの人ひとが走はしって乗のってきた。

densha no doa ga shimarou to shita toki, otoko no hito ga hashitte notte kita.

Just as the train doors were about to close, a man came running on board.

赤あかちゃんが一人ひとりで立たとうとしているので、みんなで静しずかに見守みまもった。

akachan ga hitori de tatou to shite iru node, minna de shizuka ni mimamotta.

The baby was trying to stand up alone, so we all watched quietly.

冷蔵庫れいぞうこのプリンにスプーンを入いれようとした時とき、妹いもうとに「それ、私わたしの！」と止とめられた。

reizouko no purin ni supuun o ireyou to shita toki, imouto ni "sore, watashi no!" to tomerareta.

Just as I was about to put my spoon into the pudding from the fridge, my younger sister stopped me, saying, "That’s mine!"

7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.