Japanese from zero · N3 Lesson 32
Hard to, no way to
〜ようと する / 〜ようと しない ・ 〜がたい ・ 〜ようがない ・ 〜そうもない / 〜そうにない
In this lesson, you will learn to say that someone is trying to do something, or won't even try, with 〜ようと する and 〜ようと しない, to say something is hard to believe or forget with 〜がたい, to say there is no way to do it with 〜ようがない, and to say something shows no sign of happening with 〜そうもない. Matsumoto's job hunt is going badly, and Lisa tries to cheer him up.
By the end you will be able to say
先輩は 新聞の 仕事を 見つけようと して います。My senpai is trying to find a job at a newspaper.
進路が なかなか 決まりそうもない。My future plans don't look like they'll be settled any time soon.
その 話は 信じがたいです。That story is hard to believe.
今は 何も しようがない。There's nothing I can do right now.
りょうは 就活を 始めようと しない。Ryo won't even try to start job hunting.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜ようと する / 〜ようと しない — try to; won't even try — Volitional form + と する means 'try to' or 'be about to'; と しない means someone won't even try.
- 〜がたい — very hard to (bring yourself to) — ます-stem + がたい says something is very hard to do because your feelings or judgment resist it: 信じがたい.
- 〜ようがない — there is no way to — ます-stem + ようがない says there is no way at all to do something.
- 〜そうもない / 〜そうにない — doesn't look likely to — ます-stem + そうもない or そうにない says something shows no sign of happening.