Very strongly tied to the concept of Volition. The volitional form implies an unfixed plan, whereas the plain form would imply a fixed plan. It has the vibe of going with the flow.
Conjugation
The volitional form of ichidan (る) verbs is stem + よう, not ろう
| 一段 | 五段 る | 五段 す | | ---- | ---- | ---- | | たべよう | 切ろう | 話そう |
let's (...)
としない
states that you're not willing to do, negating the volition,
or that you're not trying to do something.
彼は怒っているから、誰の話も聞こうとしない。 Because he is angry, he is not willing to listen to what anyone has to say.
家になかなか帰ろうとしない He isn't really willing to go home.
何度失敗しても、彼は望みを捨てようとしない。 No matter how much he fails, he is not willing to discard his dreams.
https://bunpro.jp/grammar_points/-ようとしない
とする
Attempt to (...)
When used with a volitional verb: An attempt to do something to achieve something. Usually implies that this isn't your first rodeo, you've likely already failed a couple times. Yet, you keep going: this is very volitional! Beware that this form looks an awful lot like ようにする, especially with 一段 verbs! Don't confuse them.
日本語を学ぼうとする To attempt to learn japanese.
明日早く起こうとする I will try to wake up early tomorrow
子供は嘘を作ろうとします Children will attempt to use lies.
窓を開けようとした I attempted to open the window
About to begin/end
With an involitional verb: shows that an action is about to start or end. Didn't find it specifically written, but I infer that this also requires a 〜ている form.
雨が降ろうとしている。 Rain is about to fall.
私ももうすぐ４０歳に差し掛かろうとしている。 I'm about to turn 40 very soon.
大地震からもうすぐ１か月が経とうとしている。 It has been almost a month since the big earthquake (lit. The month after the big earthquake is soon to be passed through)
１日が終わろうとしている。 The day is about to end.
橋が壊れようとしていた The bridge was about to break.
にする
describes that you try to do something habitually. This takes part of the meaning ofTo make it so that (...). with the 〜ている denotes that it's ongoing, so habitual.
毎日野菜を食べるようにしています。 I try to eat vegetables every day.
無理をしないでようにしている I try to not (habitually) work too hard.