N3 Intentions, Efforts, and Feelings

~ようとする: meaning, usage and examples

~ようとする means: to try to... / to be about to...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 出でかけようとしたとき、電話でんわがかかってきた。

   When I was just about to go out, the telephone rang.

2. 一生懸命いっしょうけんめい、ドアを開あけようとしたが、開あかなかった。

   I tried hard to open the door, but it wouldn't open.

3. 電車でんしゃに乗のろうとしたら、ドアが閉しまってしまいました。

   Just as I was about to get on the train, the doors closed.

4. 赤あかちゃんが一人ひとりで立たとうとしています。

   The baby is trying to stand up on her own.

When to use it

ようとする has two meanings. With effort, it means "to try to" do something, often something that did not succeed: ドアを開あけようとしたが、開あかなかった. With とき or ところ, it means "to be about to": 出でかけようとしたとき、電話でんわが鳴なった. It can also describe things on the edge of a change: 日ひが沈しずもうとしている (the sun is about to set).

Nuance

Neutral; common in speech and stories. It focuses on the moment of trying or starting, and often hints that something got in the way. With people, it is a conscious attempt. It is most common in the past: ようとしました.

Compare

つもり is a plan in your head: 行いくつもりだった (I intended to go). ようとする is an attempt that has started: 行いこうとした (I tried to go, I was about to go). てみる is trying something out to see what it is like: 食たべてみる (try eating it), not an effort against difficulty.

Tip: Struggle against something? ようとする. Sampling something new? てみる. 開あけてみた (I tried opening it) vs 開あけようとした (I tried to open it, but...).