Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 6: 6/17

う・よう + にも~ない
cannot... even if one wants/tries, would like but cannot, wants/tries but cannot

Generally used with にも

Structure
Verb1[おう] + にも + Verb1[できる][ない]
Verb[おう] + にも + (Reason) Phrase
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
  • [A[volitional]にもA[potential[ない]] is used when one wants or tries to do action A, but circumstances make it impossible]
  • [A[volitional]にもB is also used, where B often describes said circumstances]
  • [Expressions like ようがない、無理、わけがない、不可能 and various negative forms are often used in B]
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
亡(な)き妻(つま)の笑顔(えがお)は忘(わす)れようにも忘(わす)れられない
I cannot forget the smile of my late wife, even if I try to.
Play  
藤沼(ふじぬま)探偵(たんてい):「彼(かれ)が犯人(はんにん)だと思(おも)うけど、逮捕(たいほ)しようにも、証拠(しょうこ)がないんだ。」
Detective Fujinuma: “I think that he is the criminal, but even if I try to arrest him, I have no proof.”
Play  
アクション映画(えいが)バスの運転手(うんてんしゅ)は警察官(けいさつかん):「時速(じそく)が80キロを下回(したまわ)るとバスに隠(かく)された爆弾(ばくだん)が爆発(ばくはつ)するから減速(げんそく)しようにもできないわ。」」
Action movie, the bus driver to the policeman: “If the speed falls below 80 km/h, the bomb hidden in the bus will explode, so I cannot slow down even though I want to!”
[減速 doesn’t have to be repeated]
Play  
Online
Books
Try N1
Page 122
Shin Kanzen Master N1 Bunpou
Page 58
Sou Matome Bunpou N1
Page 81
A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar
Page 730