許可・義務N1

〜（よ）うにも〜ない

can't... even if one wants to / no matter how hard one tries...

Structure

V-意志形 + にも + V-可能形の否定

V-volitional + にも + negative potential: one wants to do it but objectively cannot.

寝不足で、起きようにも起きられない。

I'm so sleep-deprived that I can't get up no matter how hard I try.

お金がなくて、買おうにも買えない。

Without money, I can't buy it even if I want to.

The first verb is volitional, the second is the negative potential form, expressing an objective obstacle.