〜ようとする has two meanings:
Try to - Attempting an action (often implies difficulty or failure)
About to - On the verge of doing something
I tried to open the door, but it was locked.
With しない: ようとしない means "won''t even try" or "refuses to."
Volitional form + とする
- 食べよう + とする → 食べようとする
- 行こう + とする → 行こうとする
ようとしない = refuses to, won''t even try
Past form (ようとした) often implies the attempt failed
He won't even try to say anything.
Just as I was about to leave, the phone rang.
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