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
Structure Legend  
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]
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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.
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    • 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.”
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    • 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）に：「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]
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    Books
    Try N1
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    Shin Kanzen Master N1 Bunpou
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    Sou Matome Bunpou N1
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    A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar
    Page 730
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