Verb ようにも

〜you ni mo

JLPT N1 Chapter 144: Not impossible, not unheard of, 4 of 11

Formation

Verb-volitional form + にも + (reason/potential negative, etc.)

Used to express 'even though one wants to do something, one can't for some reason'.

When to use

ようにも～ない: can't even if you want to (行こうにも行けない). The attachment differs: Verb-volitional + にも is 'even if I try to V, I can't' (走ろうにも走れない), Verb-dictionary + にも is 'even to V, the means are lacking' (受けるにもお金が足りない).

Explanation

The ～ようにも grammar point indicates that a person wants or tries to do something (volitional form), but for some reason cannot. Often, there's a second clause explaining what prevents the action.

Example sentences

もう少すこし速く走はしろうにも、足あしが痛いたくて無理むりだ。

I'd like to run a bit faster, but I can’t because my leg hurts.

Mou sukoshi hayaku hashirou ni mo, ashi ga itakute muri da.
彼かれに話はなそうにも、彼かれは私わたしを無視むししている。

I want to talk to him, but he's ignoring me.

Kare ni hanasou ni mo, kare wa watashi o mushi shite iru.
もっと勉強べんきょうしようにも、時間じかんがない。

I want to study more, but I have no time.

Motto benkyou shiyou ni mo, jikan ga nai.
彼女かのじょに謝あやまろうにも、彼女かのじょはもう怒おこっている。

I would like to apologize to her, but she's already angry.

Kanojo ni ayamarou ni mo, kanojo wa mou okotte iru.
明日あした雨あめが降ふったとしても、傘かさを持もつにも荷物にもつが多おおすぎる。

Even if it rains tomorrow, I have too much luggage to bring an umbrella.

Ashita ame ga futta to shite mo, kasa o motsu ni mo nimotsu ga oosugiru.
試験しけんに落おちたが、もう一度いちど受うけるにもお金かねが足たりない。

I failed the exam, but I don’t have the money to take it again even if I wanted to.

Shiken ni ochita ga, mou ichido ukeru ni mo okane ga tarinai.
彼かれに会あいたいと思おもっても、彼かれに会あうにも難むずかしい状況じょうきょうだ。

Even if I want to see him, it's a difficult situation to meet him.

Kare ni aitai to omotte mo, kare ni au ni mo muzukashii joukyou da.
この空港くうこうから彼女かのじょの家いえに行いくにもタクシーが必要ひつようだ。

I'd need a taxi to get from this airport to her house, even if I wanted to go.

Kono kuukou kara kanojo no ie ni iku ni mo takushii ga hitsuyou da.

Unlikely / Impossible

Compare when to use each

Corpus examples (2)

買かいたい物ものを全部ぜんぶ買かおうにも、お金かねが足たりないな。

I don't have enough money to buy everything I want to buy.
行いこうにも行いけそうにない。

I can't go even if I want to.