亡（な）き妻（つま）の笑顔（えがお）は忘（わす）れ<strong>よう</strong><strong>にも</strong>忘（わす）れられ<strong>ない</strong>。

<span class='name-highlight'>藤沼（ふじぬま）探偵（たんてい）</span>：「<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='564'>彼（かれ）</span>が犯人（はんにん）だと<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='582'>思（おも）う</span>けど、逮捕（たいほ）し<strong>ようにも</strong>、証拠（しょうこ）がないんだ。」

<span class='name-highlight'>アクション<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='645'>映画（えいが）</span>、<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='196'>バス</span>の運転手（うんてんしゅ）は<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='967'>警察官（けいさつかん）</span>に</span>：「時速（じそく）が８０キロを下回（したまわ）ると<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='196'>バス</span>に隠（かく）された爆弾（ばくだん）が爆発（ばくはつ）<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='138'>する</span>から減速（げんそく）し<strong>ようにも</strong>でき<strong>ない</strong>わ。」

<span class='name-highlight'>コメディ、語（かた）り<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='598'>手（て）</span></span>：「ペイン軍曹（ぐんそう）は戦（たたか）<strong>おうにも</strong>相手（あいて）がいなくて困（こま）っている。とっくにすべての敵（てき）を殺（ころ）したからだ。」

プロジェクト<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='189'>について</span><span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='576'>心配（しんぱい）</span><span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='138'>する</span>あまり、寝（ね）<strong>ようにも</strong>寝（ね）られ<strong>ない</strong>。

「<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='309'>今日（きょう）</span>は実家（じっか）に<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='26' data-vocab-id='539'>帰（かえ）る</span>はずだったけど、<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='14' data-vocab-id='88'>ここ</span>を出（で）<strong>よう</strong><strong>にも</strong>、<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='101'>こんな</span>吹雪（ふぶき）じゃ<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='1011'>道（みち）</span>が通（つう）じないから<strong>無理（むり）だ</strong>。」

<div class='writeup-body'>When combined with either of the <span class='info-highlight' data-term='助動詞・じょどうし'>auxiliary verbs</span> of volition, う or よう, <span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>にも～ない</span> conveys that 'despite wanting to (A), it can't be done'. There are usually some circumstances as to why (A) cannot be done that are beyond the control of the speaker. The same verb will be repeated in both the volitional form and the negated potential form. This means that the literal meaning of this grammar pattern is 'Even if I went to (A), I can't (A)'. This 'went to' implies the 'attempt' or 'will' on behalf of the speaker.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'>
 <li class='writeup-example'>
<div class='writeup-example--japanese'>
もう夜（よる）遅（おそ）いから電車（でんしゃ）もバスも走（はし）ってないし、全然（ぜんぜん）タクシーも通（とお）らないし、帰（かえ）ろう<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>にも</span>帰（かえ）れ<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>ない</span>。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>
Since it is late at night,  there aren't any trains or buses, and I haven't seen a taxi, so I can't go home even if I wanted to.</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>


色々（いろいろ）と仕事（しごと）のことで悩（なや）んでいるから、毎晩（まいばん）寝（ね）よう<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>にも</span>寝（ね）れ<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>ない</span>。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>
I can't sleep even if I wanted to because I am worried about a lot of things regarding work.</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>


昨日（きのう）出（で）てきた釣竿（つりざお）を買（か）いたいけど、高（たか）いから買（か）おう<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>にも</span>買え<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>ない</span>。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>
I want to buy the new fishing rod that came out yesterday, but since it is expensive, I can't buy it even if I wanted to.</div></li></ul>
<div class='writeup-caution'><div class='caution-header'>Caution</div>As opposed to the similar <span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='824'>に～ない</span> grammar point that pairs with verbs in <span class='info-highlight' data-term='辞書形・じしょけい'>dictionary form</span>, <span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>ようにも～ない</span> tends to refer more to physical reasons for why something cannot be done. <span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='824'>に～ない</span> on the other hand is often used to illustrate mental limitations.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'>
 <li class='writeup-example'>
<div class='writeup-example--japanese'>
行（い）きたくないけど、先輩（せんぱい）に誘（さそ）われたら断（こと）るに断（こと）れない。 </div><div class='writeup-example--english'>
I don't want to go, but since my senpai invited me, I can't say no even if I wanted to. (Mental reason)</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>


携帯（けいたい）を無（な）くしてしまったから、上司（じょうし）に連絡（れんらく）しよう<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>にも</span>でき<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='839'>ない</span>。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>
Since I lost my phone, I can't call my boss even if I wanted to. (Physical reason)</div></li></ul></div></div>

Grammar Info

う・よう + にも～ない

cannot... even if one wants/tries, would like but cannot, wants/tries but cannot