“〜yō ni mo 〜nai”: Can't Even Though I Want To [JLPT N3]

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

Wanting to do something but unable to, due to some obstacle

「手伝おうにも、やり方が分からない」 — 「ようにも〜ない」, want to ~ but can't

「手伝おうにも、やり方が分からない」 (I want to help, but I don't know how) — 「verb volitional ＋ にも ＋ the same verb's potential negative」 means “even if I want to do something, I can't for some reason”: “want to ~ but can't,” a clash between will and a real obstacle. This guide covers 「ようにも〜ない」's attachment, that “willing but blocked by reality” resignation, and separates it from 「たくても〜ない／ようとしない」.

Core: the will is there, but reality blocks it

The core of 「ようにも〜ない」 is a clash of “will vs obstacle” — the first half uses the volitional (〜よう) for “wanting to do,” the second half uses the same verb's potential negative (〜ない) for “can't, for some reason”:

• Want to but no way/means: 電話しようにも、電波が入らない (I want to call, but there's no signal).
• Want to but blocked: 出かけようにも、大雪で出られない (I want to go out, but can't due to heavy snow).

Feel: “want to ~ (will), but can't ~ (obstacle)” — willing but powerless, expressing resignation, a bind.

How to Connect

Examples in context

• 手伝おうにも、やり方が分からない。(I want to help, but don't know how.) — no method
• 電話しようにも、電波が入らない。(I want to call, but there's no signal.) — no reception
• 眠ろうにも、隣がうるさくて眠れない。(I want to sleep, but the neighbors are too loud to.) — disturbed
• 買おうにも、お金が足りない。(I want to buy it, but don't have enough money.) — no means
• 逃げようにも、逃げ場がない。(I want to flee, but there's nowhere to run.) — no escape

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① The second half is the ‘potential negative,' not a plain negative. ✗ 行こうにも行かない (plain negative “don't go” — wrong) → ✓ 行こうにも行けない (potential negative “can't go”). The second half must be the potential negative (行ける→行けない, 寝られる→寝られない), meaning “can't do,” not “don't do.”

② The first half is the ‘volitional,' not the たい-form. Chinese “want” tempts a direct たい-form — ✗ 行きたいにも行けない → ✓ 行こうにも行けない (volitional ＋ にも). The first-half “want to do” uses the volitional (〜よう／〜おう) ＋ にも, not 「たい」. Remember: volitional にも ＋ potential negative.

③ 「ようにも〜ない」 (willing but blocked by reality) vs 「たくても〜ない」 (want to but can't). Very close (both “want to but can't”), a subtle difference: ようにも〜ない = even wanting to …, can't (due to an objective obstacle) (stressing an ‘objective, external obstacle') (出かけようにも、雪で出られない = want to go out, but can't due to snow); たくても〜ない = though I want to …, I can't (more colloquial, subjective or objective) (行きたくても、お金がなくて行けない = want to go but can't for lack of money). ようにも leans written, stressing objective blockage; たくても is more colloquial.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: ようにも〜ない／たくても〜ない／ても／ようとしない

💡 Quick takeaway

「ようにも〜ない」 expresses “want to do but blocked by reality, can't,” at its core a clash of “will vs obstacle” — the will is there (volitional: 手伝おう = want to help), but you can't for some reason (potential negative: やり方が分からない = don't know how). It's spot-on for expressing the resignation, the bind of “willing but powerless.” Three points: ① the first half is the volitional (行こうにも, ✗ 行きたいにも); ② the second half is the potential negative (行けない, ✗ 行かない — “can't go,” not “don't go”); ③ opposite to 「ようとしない」 — ようにも is “has the will but can't,” ようとしない is “has no will at all (won't).” To express the dilemma of “want to … but can't,” ようにも〜ない is vivid.

❓ Common questions

Q: How do I remember 「ようにも〜ない」's attachment? What form does each half take?

It's the fixed structure “first half volitional ＋ にも, second half the same verb's potential negative,” using the same verb both times. Steps: ① first half: verb → volitional (〜よう／〜おう) ＋ にも — “even if I want to do”: 行く→行こうにも, 食べる→食べようにも, する→しようにも, 来る→来ようにも. ② second half: same verb → potential form, then negate — “can't do”: 行く→行ける→行けない, 食べる→食べられる→食べられない, する→できる→できない, 来る→来られる→来られない. Together: 行こうにも行けない (want to go but can't), 食べようにも食べられない (want to eat but can't), しようにもできない (want to do but can't). Two key errors: the first half is the volitional, not the たい-form (✗ 行きたいにも); the second half is the potential negative, not a plain negative (✗ 行かない — use 行けない). Mnemonic: (verb) volitional にも ＋ (same verb) potential negative.

Q: How do I tell 「ようにも〜ない」 from 「ようとしない」? (both have 「よう」)

Completely opposite directions! 「ようにも〜ない」 = ‘has' the will, but can't due to an obstacle (wants to but can't): 説明しようにも、言葉が通じない (want to explain, but the language doesn't get through — willing to explain, but can't), 帰ろうにも、終電がもうない (want to go home, but the last train's gone). Its point is “I want to, but objectively can't” (will ＋ obstacle). 「ようとしない」 = ‘has no' will, won't do, doesn't intend to (subjectively unwilling): 彼は謝ろうとしない (he won't apologize — has no intention of apologizing), 子供が野菜を食べようとしない (the child won't eat vegetables), 話を聞こうとしない (won't listen). Its point is “doesn't want to at all, won't” (no will). So: “want to but can't (has will, has obstacle)” → ようにも〜ない; “won't, doesn't intend to (no will)” → ようとしない. One is “willing but powerless,” the other “no will at all” — though both have the volitional 「よう」, one attaches 「にも〜ない (can't)」 and the other 「としない (won't)」, opposite meanings; don't confuse them.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「手伝おう___、やり方が分からない。」(want to help but don't know how)

(A) にも　(B) なら　(C) ても　(D) のに

Q2. What is the correct structure of 「行こうにも行けない」?

(A) volitional form＋にも＋potential-form negative (行こう＋行けない)

(B) dictionary form＋にも＋dictionary form

(C) た-form＋にも　(D) て-form＋にも

Q3. What does 「寝ようにも寝られない」 mean?

(A) Want to sleep but can't (objective circumstances don't allow it)

(B) Don't want to sleep

(C) Sleeping well

(D) Must sleep

Q4. What does 「ようにも〜ない」 express?

(A) Want to do ~ but objective conditions make it impossible

(B) Did it, yet

(C) Even if not doing it

(D) While doing

Q5. Which connection is correct?

(A) 連絡しようにも、番号が分からない。　(B) 連絡するにも、できない (volitional)。

(C) 連絡しにも。　(D) 連絡してにも。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) にも ── volitional form 「手伝おう」＋にも.

2. (A) ── volitional form＋にも＋potential-form negative.

3. (A) ── Want to sleep but can't (circumstances don't allow it).

4. (A) ── Want to do it but objectively can't.

5. (A) ── 「しようにも」 (volitional form) is correct.