“〜(yo)u to mo shinai”: Won't Even Try to 〜 (passive non-action) [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

Lacking even the will to attempt something

「話を聞こうともしない」 — won't even listen, won't even try

What's most disheartening is when someone has no will even to try — 「彼は人の話を聞こうともしない (he won't even try to listen to people).」 「〜（よ）うともしない」 = won't even ～, has no will even to try (utterly passive in attitude, doing nothing). It carries clear reproach and exasperation. This guide clarifies its core of “no will even to try,” the volitional-form attachment (the godan trap), and separating it from 「ようとしない」「ようがない」「とも思わない.」

Core: won't even ～, no will even to try (passive in attitude)

「verb volitional form ＋ ともしない」 means “won't even ～, won't even try” — it's 「〜ようとする (try to do)」 negated, then intensified with 「も,」 showing the other is utterly passive in attitude, doing nothing (won't even listen, apologize, move):

• 忠告しても、彼は聞き入れようともしない (even advised, he won't even try to heed it).
• 自分が悪いのに、謝ろうともしない (though in the wrong, he won't even try to apologize).
• 現状に甘んじて、変えようともしない (content with the status quo, won't even try to change it).

Feel: the core is “no will even to try, won't even try” — stressing the other's passive attitude, unwillingness to make an effort, to face things. It carries clear reproach, exasperation, disappointment, stronger than 「ようとしない (won't ～)」 with the added 「も.」 In English: “won't even ～, won't even try, won't even think of ～ing.”

Attachment & forms

Examples in context

• 彼は失敗を認めようともしない。(He won't even try to admit failure.)
• 何度誘っても、彼女は来ようともしなかった。(However often I invited her, she wouldn't even try to come.)
• 都合が悪くなると、目を合わせようともしない。(When things turn awkward, he won't even try to meet your eyes.)
• 若者の意見に、耳を傾けようともしない上司。(A boss who won't even try to listen to young people's opinions.)
• 動こうともしない猫を、じっと見つめた。(I stared at the cat that wouldn't even try to move.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① ⭐Attachment is the volitional form; don't misapply ichidan's ‘masu stem ＋ よう' to godan verbs. This is the most common attachment error. 「〜ともしない」 precedes a verb volitional form (〜（よ）う), but godan and ichidan conjugate differently: ichidan verbs are “masu stem ＋ よう” (食べる→食べよう, 見る→見よう); but godan verbs must “change to the お-row sound then add う” (聞く→聞こう, 動く→動こう, 話す→話そう). Learners often misapply ichidan's rule to godan, writing ✗「聞きようともしない」 — wrong; correct is 「聞こうともしない.」 Test: godan verbs first become お-row ＋ う (聞こう／動こう／読もう), ichidan verbs masu stem ＋ よう (食べよう／見よう).

② ⭐Separate it from 「〜とも思わない」 — ようともしない is passive in action, とも思わない is not even the thought in mind. This is the most confusable feel. The Chinese intuition “won't even apologize” easily blurs “not doing it in action” and “not even the thought crossing one's mind.” 「〜（よ）うともしない」 = won't even ～ (passive in action, attitude, won't even try): 謝ろうともしない (won't even try to apologize — about being passive in action, not performing the act of apologizing). 「〜（よ）うとも思わない」 = won't even think of ～ing (not even the thought in mind): 謝ろうとも思わない (hasn't the least thought of apologizing — about in the mind, not even having thought of apologizing). Difference: 「ようともしない」 = won't do it in action (passive attitude); 「ようとも思わない」 = hasn't even thought of it in mind (no such intention). Test: to stress not doing it in action → ようともしない; to stress not even the thought in mind → ようとも思わない. Different in feel, not interchangeable.

③ ⭐Register: strong in tone with reproach; don't use it to an elder／superior／client's face; for genuine inability use 「ようがない.」 This is an important usage reminder. 「〜ともしない」 is strong in tone, with clear reproach and disappointment, direct and unsparing, mostly for colloquial complaint (displeasure at family, friends, subordinates) or written commentary (editorials, news criticizing politicians', companies' passive responses). So it's unsuited to using to an elder, superior, client's face where honorifics are needed (else it sounds rude, aggressive). For just an objective description of someone not doing something, without reproach, use the neutral 「〜ない」「〜ようとしない.」 Also: if the other is not passive but genuinely lacks the ability／means to do it, don't use 「ようともしない」 — use 「〜ようがない (want to but have no way).」 Test: to reproachfully criticize “(he) won't even try” → ようともしない (colloquial complaint／written commentary, not to an elder or superior's face); for objective description → ようとしない／ない; for genuine inability → ようがない.

④ Separate it from 「ようとしない」 — the added 「も」 is stronger. 「〜ようとしない」 = won't ～, unwilling to ～ (passive attitude, more neutral): 話を聞こうとしない (won't listen). 「〜ようともしない」 = won't even ～ (with 「も,」 stressing ‘won't even try,' heavier reproach): 話を聞こうともしない (won't even listen — with 「も」 added, stressing “no will even to try”). Difference: 「ようとしない」 = won't ～ (more neutral); 「ようともしない」 = won't even ～ (with も, stronger, heavier reproach). Test: to more strongly reproach “won't even try” → ようともしない; to plainly say “won't ～” → ようとしない.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: ようともしない／ようとしない／ようとも思わない／ようがない

💡 How to remember this

「〜（よ）うともしない」 = won't even ～, no will even to try — four points: ①⭐attachment is the volitional form — godan becomes お-row ＋ う (聞こう), ichidan masu stem ＋ よう (食べよう), don't write ✗聞きよう; ②⭐separate it from 「ようとも思わない (not even the thought in mind)」 — ようともしない is passive in action; ③⭐strong in tone with reproach; don't use it to an elder／superior's face (for objective description use ようとしない／ない; for genuine inability use ようがない); ④ stronger than 「ようとしない」 with the added 「も.」 This is an expression with real “exasperated disappointment” flavor — 「話を聞こうともしない」「謝ろうともしない」 render that exasperation and reproach of “won't even try, does nothing” with real force. But precisely because it's heavy, mind the setting when criticizing — don't say it to someone's face who deserves courtesy.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: How is 「聞こう」 in 「聞こうともしない」 formed? Why not 「聞きよう」?

Because 「聞く」 is a godan verb, whose volitional form “changes to the お-row sound then adds う,” so it's 「聞こう,」 not 「聞きよう.」 This is Chinese speakers' commonest attachment error. The volitional form (〜（よ）う) conjugates differently for godan and ichidan: ① ichidan verbs (食べる, 見る, 起きる) = “masu stem ＋ よう”: 食べる→食べよう, 見る→見よう, 起きる→起きよう. ② godan verbs (聞く, 話す, 読む, 動く) = “the ending changes to the お-row sound ＋ う”: 聞く (く→こ)→聞こう, 話す (す→そ)→話そう, 読む (む→も)→読もう, 動く→動こう. ③ する→しよう, くる→こよう (special). So “won't even listen” is 「聞こうともしない」 (○), not 「聞きようともしない」 (× — misapplying ichidan's rule to godan). Test: before 「ともしない,」 first make the verb its correct volitional form — godan お-row ＋ う (聞こう／読もう／話そう), ichidan masu stem ＋ よう (食べよう／見よう). This godan volitional conjugation is where 「ようともしない」 most easily loses points.

Q: What's the difference between 「謝ろうともしない」 and 「謝ろうとも思わない」?

The difference is ‘not doing it in action' vs ‘not even the thought in mind.' 「〜（よ）うともしない」 = won't even ～ (passive in action, attitude): 「謝ろうともしない」 is about “(he) in action won't even perform the act of apologizing, won't even try” — the point being passivity, doing nothing in action: 明らかに彼が悪いのに、謝ろうともしない (though clearly he's wrong, he won't even try to apologize — criticizing his not doing it in action). 「〜（よ）うとも思わない」 = won't even think of ～ing (not even that thought in mind): 「謝ろうとも思わない」 is about “(he) hasn't the least ‘I should apologize' thought, hasn't even thought of it” — the point being no such intention in mind: 反省の色もなく、謝ろうとも思わない (with no sign of remorse, not even the thought of apologizing — stressing he hasn't the idea at all). Difference: 「ようともしない」 = won't do it in action (passive attitude, won't even try); 「ようとも思わない」 = hasn't even thought of it in mind (no such thought). Test: to criticize “(he) in action won't even try” → ようともしない; to stress “(he) hasn't even the thought in mind” → ようとも思わない. Though Chinese might render both as “won't even apologize,” Japanese distinguishes “not doing it (ともしない)” from “not thinking it (とも思わない)” — different in feel, not interchangeable.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「彼は忠告を聞こう___。」(won't even listen)

(A) ともしない　(B) としか思えない　(C) にすぎない　(D) かねない

Q2. 「ともしない」の前の動詞の形は?

(A) volitional form（〜よう／〜おう）　(B) dictionary form　(C) nai-form　(D) te-form

Q3. 「謝ろうともしない」の意味は?

(A) Won't even apologize (has no intention at all)

(B) Apologizes right away

(C) Wants to apologize

(D) Has already apologized

Q4. 「ようともしない」の語感は?

(A) Won't even try / passive inaction (strong)

(B) Actively tries

(C) Command

(D) Condition

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 動こうともしない。　(B) 動くともしない。

(C) 動いてともしない。　(D) 動かともしない。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) ともしない ── won't even listen.

2. (A) 意志形 ── 意志形＋ともしない.

3. (A) ── won't even apologize.

4. (A) ── won't even try (strong inaction).

5. (A) ── 「動こうともしない」 (volitional form) is correct.