Questions tagged [volitional-form]
意向形. The verb form ending with 〜(よ)う. Also called 意志形.
32 questions
26
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Volitional + と + Verb
(In this question, I will use "Volitional" to mean "V-(よ)う".)
As I understand it, Volitional + と + する is a phrase meaning "to try to do something". I've also seen similar phrases, but with different ...
user1478
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Meaning of volitional passive form
お姉ちゃんに何を言われようが、まる子はウキウキ気分なのであった。
What was said by her sister ???? but, Maruko felt cheerful.
I can't think of any way in which something which is passive can also be volitional. How do I understand ...
- 30.8k
4
votes
1
answer
416
views
だろうと how can I translate it?
I am reading The Little Prince in Japanese and I am not sure about how to translate だろうと in the following sentence:
大人たちにそう言われてから、今度はわかってくれるだろうとウワバミの中身を描いて見ました。
I don't know how to literally ...
- 433
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Understand the difference between [dictionary/ない + ようとする] and [volitional + にする]
I have come across a couple of concepts that seem relatively similar, but I would like an understanding on their differences, if any.
The first is the dictionary/ない form + ようとする. And the other is the ...
- 293
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What are the grammar rules behind this clause, 「才能があろうがなかろうが」?
才能があろうがなかろうが、そんなもん他人が決める事じゃない。どこの部に所属するかなんぞ俺が決める事だ
I'm asking about the bolded clause.
This is casual dialogue, in case there's any confusion about that.
I don't normally put Japanese through Google ...
- 85
7
votes
1
answer
968
views
Verb ending in -ん with positive meaning?
I was watching an anime, and this is the context: prior to the series, the main character went in hiding after betraying her peers, since she was the only against a peace she deemed fake; while ...
- 3,701
14
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What does volitional form + っと mean?
「そうだ！家で音楽聞こうっと」
「もう寝ようっと」
「英語でブログを書いてみようっと。」
How does it differ from a volitional form without っと?
My best guess is that it's a monologue marker, like な is.
- 2,133
10
votes
1
answer
660
views
What Does the "Volitional" Really Mean?
In everyday language and for early learners, when the verb ends in おう or よう, it is conventionally called the "volitional" form, for example:
今夜はもうねよう (I'll just go to sleep for tonight).
It ...
- 2,399
16
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Does the volitional form of a verb mean both "let's" and "I want to"?
I was taught ages ago that the volitional form of a verb means "let's" do something. For example, if you take 行{い}く and change it to 行{い}こう, you get "let's go".
However, I feel like I can use the ...
- 24.9k
9
votes
1
answer
277
views
Can the volitional form be used when the speaker is not intending to do the action themselves?
From what I understand the volitional form is often used to mean "let's do" something, e.g. 行こう can mean "let's go". Can this form be use when the speaker themself is not going to perform the action? ...
- 91
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
〜ようにする vs 〜ようと思う
I'm wondering about the difference between 〜ようにする vs 〜ようと思う, which both express intention. Here's an example sentence from A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar (pg 562).
私は毎日運動するようにする。
I'll make ...
- 476
12
votes
3
answers
5k
views
よかろう - What does it mean? Where does it come from?
This is another question that's come from a 昔話。
We have the following section:
大きい箱と小さい箱がありますが、どちらがいいですか。
どちらも結構じゃが、どうしてもと言うのなら、小さいほうでよかろう。
I'm having trouble with the second sentence. My ...
10
votes
1
answer
3k
views
ことにする versus ようにする
A: 毎日漢字を十覚えることにしている。
B: 毎日漢字を十覚えるようにしている。
Both literally mean
I make a rule to remember 10 kanji characters everyday.
So what is the difference?
- 7,519
5
votes
2
answers
673
views
Why is the 「ようとして」 construct used here?
I was playing The Legend of Zelda, the Ocarina of Time, and the great deku tree says 「今{いま}、ハイラルはその力{ちから}に飲{の}み込{こ}まれようとしておる。。。」, which as far as I can tell means "Right now, Hyrule is being swallowed ...
- 391
3
votes
1
answer
970
views
What does volitional + と mean?
For example in this sentence:
迷宮内は天井が宿す燐光によって光源に困らない代わりに、夜になろうと朝を迎えようとその眩しい光が途切れることはない。
How should I interpret 夜になろうと朝を迎えようと?
Thanks!
- 1,617
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What does 何+(counter)+も+volitional mean? e.g. 何機も買おう
I found this sentence as an answer to the question: "What are some of the symbols of Japan's wealth?"
次期主力戦闘機を何機も買おうとしていること
I'm not sure whether it means they're buying a lot of next-generation ...
- 23
1
vote
1
answer
692
views
What's the meaning of 「〜どんなに抵抗しようとも限り…」
I cannot find any material relating to this grammar point. Give the following example, could you explain what the meaning of this grammar is?
どんなに抵抗しようとも限り生きている人はいつかは死ぬ。
- 1,241
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Verb volitional form (動詞の意志形) - usage
I have a couple of questions about the volitional form of verbs that I've become unclear on lately. Here is a Bible passage containing the grammar in question:
(Note that I'm using a Bible passage as ...
- 44.8k
11
votes
3
answers
16k
views
What is the use of 〜ようとしている?
The sentence, from chapter 7 of the Tobira textbook, is 日本の[漫画]{まんが}は[欧米人]{おうべいじん}の本の読み方さえ変えようとしている, which I think from context should mean something like "Japanese manga even changed the way that ...
- 223
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
volitional + nimo 作ろう＋にも?
What does the 「にも」 after the volitional form 「作る」 do here?
死んだら食べ物は必要ないし、死んでるんだから、物は当然産まれない。作ろうにも材料も何もないし。 がっかりさせて悪いけど、天国にはね、何にもないのよ。(『この素晴らしい世界に祝福を』シリーズ、第一巻)
I would assume it means something close ...
- 547
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
とする(か) VS Volitional, conjectural and と思う
The speaker just finished preparing a ring for a tournament when he says this sentence by himself (there is no hearer in the scene) :
さて...テレビ局に行くとするか。
I know that とする can mean "to decide to&...
- 2,021
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
"Let's not do this"
I wonder how to interpret the following sentence: "The weather is bad so let's not go out?". Basically, I want to stay as literal as possible and not end up saying "let's stay home"...
- 825
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is the volitional form of i-adjectives often used?
According to this question the volitional form of i-adjectives is used quite often -- on a daily basis. But I almost never hear it. I almost see it exclusively in books (or written documents). And if ...
- 7,073
6
votes
1
answer
647
views
Who is doing the thinking?
Observe the change:
彼女は行かないと思う。 "I think that she will not go"
彼女は行くまいと思う。 "She thinks that she will not go"
彼女は and と思う are conserved in the sentence, yet the person who is ...
Flaw♦
- 20.1k
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the difference between ～んとする and ～うとする?
I ran into ～んとする the other day and I think I get the hang of how it works and what meaning it conveys, but it seems eerily similar to that of ～うとする.
I know Japanese have a lot of different ways to say ...
- 115
5
votes
1
answer
496
views
Volitional + が ; ~おう + が
The sentence is :
まあ 何人来ようが || どうってこともないがな... (|| = Column break.)
It doesn't matter how many people want to come...
I'm not sure whether the first が is the subject particle (and if it can ...
- 2,021
4
votes
2
answers
305
views
Why is the volitional form used in this title 「時には自分を疑おう」?
I have always struggled to understand the volitional form and translating into English.
From a videogame guide I am going through, translating, I have this title:
時には自分を疑おう
”疑う” meaning "to doubt ...
- 1,859
4
votes
1
answer
343
views
Origins of the Volitional Form
I was doing some reading, and I read that while the volitional form can be explained as coming from the 未然形 for う-verbs, it cannot be explained for る-verbs. (I'm sure I should be using better ...
user3457
2
votes
2
answers
520
views
What is the connection between volitional よう form and であろう
I was wondering, what does the よう form of ある even mean? Does あろう act as volition of the object being spoken about? For example... if someone says 雨が降るでしょう(であろう）... is it the same as "It WILL rain&...
- 2,732
2
votes
1
answer
224
views
How to distinguish between う/よう of volition and suggestion?
Reading a lesson on 国語文法.com, I'm having difficulty telling 意志 from 勧誘.
E.g. 「今度こそ成績をあげよう。」 is stated is that of volition (意志). However, why can't it be "(I suggest you to) improve your grades!"?
...
- 803
1
vote
1
answer
416
views
Volitional form + かと
それから、少し手足を伸ばそうかと、道路のむかい側にあるパン屋まで歩いて買物に行くことにした。
After that he stretched out a little and decided to go to the bread shop on the opposite side of the street.
First of all I'm not sure if he stretches ...
- 30.8k
1
vote
1
answer
187
views
Use of も after quote particle
電話のベルが聞こえたとき、無視しようかとも思った。
When I heard the phone's bell I wondered if I should ignore it.
We have 無視する = "to ignore",
無視しようか = "will I ignore it?"
無視しようかと思った = "I thought 'will I ignore it'".
I ...
- 30.8k