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〜ようにも〜ない

can't, even if (I) wanted to

Verb volitional form + にも + potential negative

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ようにも〜ない says you'd like to do something, but circumstances make it impossible: 忙しくて、休もうにも休めない, "I'm so busy I can't take a break even if I want to".

Take the volitional form (休もう, 買おう, 連絡しよう), add にも, then repeat the verb in the potential negative: 買おうにも買えない, 歩こうにも歩けない. With する-verbs, the second verb is often できない.

The first half gives the obstacle: no money, no time, an injury, bad weather, a forgotten phone number.

It's a vivid way to express frustration. たくても〜ない (休みたくても休めない) means much the same and is more common in speech.

Examples

  • 忙いそがしくて、休やすもうにも休やすめない。

    I'm so busy I can't take a break even if I want to.

  • お金かねがなくて、買かおうにも買かえない。

    I have no money, so I couldn't buy it even if I wanted to.

  • 電話番号でんわばんごうを忘わすれて、連絡れんらくしようにもできない。

    I've forgotten the number, so I can't get in touch even if I want to.

  • 足あしが痛いたくて、歩あるこうにも歩あるけない。

    My feet hurt so much that I can't walk even if I try.

  • 雪ゆきで、出でかけようにも出でかけられない。

    Because of the snow, I can't go out even if I want to.

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