You to Suru in Japanese: About To, Trying To, and Refusing To

Dekakeyō to shita toki, denwa ga natta: just as I was about to go out, the phone rang. You to suru captures the moment an action is intended but not yet done.

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A person reaching for the door handle as their phone rings
What you need to know

You to Suru in Japanese: About To, Trying To, and Refusing To

The volitional form plus to suru describes an action someone is on the verge of doing or is making an effort to do. That single idea produces three everyday uses: about to, as in just as I was leaving; trying to, often with the suggestion that it did not work; and in the negative, refusing to or not even trying. It can even describe objects on the verge of moving, like a closing door. This guide builds the volitional quickly, then covers each use, the key contrast with te miru, and the mistakes that confuse listeners.

Volitional plus to suru means on the verge of or making an attempt

You to shita toki means just as something was about to happen

You to shinai means someone will not even try, often stubbornly

Te miru means you actually did it; you to suru often means you could not

One pattern, three situations

You to suru combines the volitional form, which expresses intention, with to suru, which turns that intention into an action in progress. The result is an action that is being reached for but has not been completed.

Depending on context, that becomes about to, trying to, or, in the negative, not even trying.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
出かけようとしたとき、電話が鳴った。Dekakeyō to shita toki, denwa ga natta.Just as I was about to go out, the phone rang.
何度も思い出そうとしたけど、だめだった。Nando mo omoidasō to shita kedo, dame datta.I tried many times to remember, but it was no use.
子どもが野菜を食べようとしない。Kodomo ga yasai o tabeyō to shinai.My child will not even try to eat vegetables.

Building the volitional first

The plain volitional is the only form you need to build. It is the same form used for casual let us suggestions, so if you already say ikō, you have the first half.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
書こうとするkakō to suruTo be about to write, to try to write
寝ようとするneyō to suruTo be about to sleep, to try to sleep
説明しようとするsetsumei shiyō to suruTo try to explain
Verb groupHow to form itExample change
Godan verbsChange the final u sound to an ō soundkaku becomes kakō
Ichidan verbsReplace ru with yōtaberu becomes tabeyō
Irregular: suruBecomes shiyōbenkyō suru becomes benkyō shiyō
Irregular: kuruBecomes koyōkuru becomes koyō

About to: the moment just before

With toki or tokoro, you to shita marks the instant before an action, usually when something interrupts it. This is one of the most natural uses in storytelling.

It also describes objects on the verge of moving, which English expresses with about to.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
寝ようとしたところに、メールが来た。Neyō to shita tokoro ni, mēru ga kita.Just as I was going to sleep, an email came in.
ドアが閉まろうとしていた。Doa ga shimarō to shite ita.The door was about to close.
電車が出ようとしている。Densha ga deyō to shite iru.The train is about to leave.

Trying: effort that may not work

When you describe an attempt with you to shita, listeners usually hear that it did not succeed, or at least that it was difficult. The follow-up clause often confirms it with kedo or ga.

This makes it perfect for describing the frustrations of learning, like reaching for a word that will not come.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
開けようとしたけど、開かなかった。Akeyō to shita kedo, akanakatta.I tried to open it, but it would not open.
日本語で説明しようとしましたが、言葉が出てきませんでした。Nihongo de setsumei shiyō to shimashita ga, kotoba ga dete kimasen deshita.I tried to explain in Japanese, but the words would not come.
忘れようとしても、忘れられない。Wasureyō to shite mo, wasurerarenai.Even when I try to forget, I cannot.

You to shinai: will not even try

In the negative, the pattern describes refusal or reluctance: someone does not make the attempt at all. It is most often used about other people and animals, and it frequently carries frustration.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
彼は人の話を聞こうとしない。Kare wa hito no hanashi o kikō to shinai.He will not listen to anyone.
猫が薬を飲もうとしない。Neko ga kusuri o nomō to shinai.The cat will not take its medicine.
誰も手伝おうとしなかった。Dare mo tetsudaō to shinakatta.Nobody even tried to help.

You to suru or te miru?

Both translate as try, which is why learners mix them up. Te miru means you actually did the action to see what it would be like. You to suru means you aimed at it, and often did not complete it.

The minimal pair below is worth memorising, because it changes what your listener thinks happened.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
納豆を食べてみました。Nattō o tabete mimashita.I tried natto. (I actually ate some)
納豆を食べようとしましたが、無理でした。Nattō o tabeyō to shimashita ga, muri deshita.I tried to eat natto, but I could not.
毎日話すようにしています。Mainichi hanasu yō ni shite imasu.I make a point of speaking every day. (a habit, not an attempt)
  • Use te miru for trying something out that you actually did.
  • Use you to suru for an attempt, or for the moment just before.
  • Use yō ni suru for an ongoing effort to build a habit.
  • Use you to omou for an intention you are only considering.
Key points

A practical way to improve

Tell a story about a time something interrupted you just as you were about to do something, then add one attempt that failed. Say it to your AI Sensei in Unihongo's immersive 3D classroom and check the corrections in the session report for any te miru that should have been you to suru.

  1. 1

    Choose one clear goal

    Focus each session on a situation or skill you can actually use.

  2. 2

    Practice actively

    Say complete answers aloud instead of only reading or recognizing Japanese.

  3. 3

    Review and repeat

    Keep useful corrections and revisit the same skill until it feels natural.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between tabete mita and tabeyō to shita?

Tabete mita means you actually ate some to see what it was like. Tabeyō to shita means you made an attempt to eat it, which usually implies you could not or stopped.

Can you to suru describe things, not people?

Yes, for things on the verge of moving or changing, such as a door about to close or a train about to leave.

Is you to omou the same as you to suru?

No. You to omou means you are thinking of doing something, an intention. You to suru means you are on the verge of doing it or actively attempting it.

Can I use you to shinai about myself?

It is mostly used about other people's refusal or reluctance. About yourself, it can sound as if you are describing your own stubbornness from outside, which is sometimes the intended effect.

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