Meaning & usage
ようとが expresses that the outcome is the same regardless of whether the action happens or not. It pairs the volitional form such as 買おう or 食べよう with a まい form, using matching particles as in とと or がが. For まい, godan and irregular verbs take the dictionary form like 買うまい or 来るまい, while ichidan verbs take the stem like 食べまい or 寝まい. It is a formal written pattern for N1 level statements about indifference to either choice.
Example sentences 5
-
食べようと食べまいと、代金は同じだ。
Whether you eat or not, the price is the same.
-
買おうと買うまいと、よく考えて。
Whether you buy it or not, think it over carefully.
-
言おうが言うまいが、結果は変わらない。
Whether I say it or not, the result won't change.
-
やろうとやるまいと、君の自由だ。
Whether you do it or not, it's up to you.
-
寝ようが寝まいが、朝は必ず来る。
Whether you sleep or not, morning will surely come.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 4 past exam questions.
