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Japanese Texts Using 〜ようとする (try to / be about to)

11 free Japanese reading texts that use the N4 grammar point 〜ようとする (try to / be about to), graded beginner to advanced. Furigana on every word, tap-to-look-up, and an English vocabulary & grammar breakdown on each text.

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ネオン横丁殺人事件 cover Read ネオン横丁殺人事件 The Murder on Neon Alley 海野 十三 27 min read · Short Story ねずみの冒険 cover Read ねずみの冒険 The Mouse's Adventure 小川 未明 4 min read · Short Story 炭取り cover Read 炭取り The Charcoal Container 田中 貢太郎 1 min read · Short Story 夫人利生記 cover Read 夫人利生記 Record of the Lady's Salvation 泉 鏡花 26 min read · Short Story 木乃伊 cover Read 木乃伊 The Mummy 中島 敦 9 min read · Short Story 魔の電柱 cover Read 魔の電柱 The Demon Pole 田中 貢太郎 1 min read · Short Story ドン cover Read ドン Don 夢野 久作 2 min read · Short Story ヒント cover Read ヒント Hint 織田 作之助 1 min read · Short Story お鍋とお皿とカーテン cover Read お鍋とお皿とカーテン The Pot, the Plate, and the Curtain 村山 籌子 2 min read · Short Story 歯と眼の悪いおぢいさん cover Read 歯と眼の悪いおぢいさん The Old Man with Bad Teeth and Eyes 村山 籌子 2 min read · Short Story 暗い花 cover Read 暗い花 Dark Flower 林 芙美子 24 min read · Short Story

解説かいせつBackground

About the grammar point 〜ようとする

〜ようとする (try to / be about to) is a N4 grammar point. This shelf collects 11 free Japanese texts that use 〜ようとする in real context — graded from beginner to advanced, with furigana above every kanji — so you meet the pattern in living sentences instead of an isolated textbook example.

Every read on Yomimaru pairs the Japanese with an English study layer — key vocabulary, the grammar it uses, and a short comprehension check — plus tap-to-look-up on any word. Seeing 〜ようとする across many stories is one of the fastest ways to turn a memorised rule into something you recognise on sight.

質問しつもんQuestions

〜ようとする: questions & answers

What does 〜ようとする mean?

〜ようとする (try to / be about to) is a N4-level Japanese grammar point. The 11 texts on this shelf show it used naturally, each with an English breakdown so you can see exactly how it works in a sentence.

What JLPT level is 〜ようとする?

〜ようとする is typically introduced around JLPT N4. The reading texts here span several JLPT levels, so you can practise the pattern at, below, or slightly above your current level.

How can I practise 〜ようとする by reading?

Read a text from this shelf a little above your comfort level, lean on the furigana and instant lookups to stay in the story, then review how 〜ようとする was used afterwards. Free to read in full — a free account adds saved progress and AI study tools.