Meaning & Usage
The Japanese grammar pattern ようにする (you ni suru) is a common expression that communicates the idea of making a deliberate effort to do something, trying to establish a habit, or ensuring a task gets done. You can translate it into English using phrases like "to make an effort to do X," "to try to do X," "to make sure to do X," or "to try and do X (habitually)." The underlying meaning is always about a conscious, intentional action directed toward a goal or a desired state.
Unlike simply stating an action with a plain verb, ようにする highlights the mental and physical commitment behind an action. For example, 「毎日運動する」 (毎日運動 suru - I exercise every day) is a straightforward statement about a routine. However, 「毎日運動するようにする」 (毎日運動 suru you ni suru) implies that you are actively trying to incorporate exercise into your daily life. Perhaps it's challenging for you, or you're just starting, or you want to maintain a good habit. There's a clear will to achieve or sustain that action.
This pattern often appears when discussing personal goals, health regimens, study habits, or work ethics. Essentially, it applies to any situation where one is striving for improvement or consistency. It can also be used to give advice or instructions, suggesting that someone should try to adopt a certain behavior or ensure a particular outcome. For example, a doctor might tell a patient, 「薬は食後に飲むようにしてください。」 (Kusuri wa shokugo ni nomu you ni shite kudasai - Please make sure to take the medicine after meals).
A useful way to think about ようにする is as "setting oneself up" or "arranging things" to lead to a particular action or state. It's not merely about performing an action, but about the conscious process of trying to make that action happen, often repeatedly or consistently. It carries a sense of continuous effort or a newly adopted resolution. This makes it different from ～たい (I want to do X), which expresses a desire, or ～つもりです (I intend to do X), which expresses a plan. ようにする goes a step further, indicating the actual effort put into realizing that desire or plan.
In terms of formality, ようにする is quite flexible. You can use it in both formal and informal contexts. When paired with ～ようにしてください (you ni shite kudasai), it becomes a polite request or instruction. This form is suitable for various situations, from professional settings to advising friends. The plain forms ようにする or ようにしている are commonly used casually among peers or in self-reflection.
Structure & Formation
The formation of ようにする is quite simple: it attaches directly to the plain form of verbs. It primarily uses the non-past forms, both affirmative and negative, to express a continuous effort or intention.
| Verb Type | Form | Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 Verbs (Godan) | Non-Past Plain | 買う + ようにする | 毎日本を読むようにする。 | I try to read a book every day. |
| Non-Past Plain Negative | 買わない + ようにする | 残業しないようにする。 | I try not to work overtime. | |
| Group 2 Verbs (Ichidan) | Non-Past Plain | 食べる + ようにする | 野菜をたくさん食べるようにする。 | I try to eat a lot of vegetables. |
| Non-Past Plain Negative | 食べない + ようにする | 遅刻しないようにする。 | I try not to be late. | |
| Irregular Verbs | Non-Past Plain | する/くる + ようにする | 早く寝るようにする。 | I try to go to bed early. |
| Non-Past Plain Negative | しない/こない + ようにする | 忘れないようにする。 | I try not to forget. |
It's important to note that ようにする itself can be conjugated into different tenses to express various nuances:
～ようにします(you ni shimasu): Polite present/future (I will try to)～ようにしました(you ni shimashita): Polite past (I made an effort to / decided to start)～ようにしている(you ni shite iru): Present continuous (I am currently making an effort / habitually doing)～ようにしたい(you ni shitai): I want to make an effort to do X～ようにしてください(you ni shite kudasai): Please make an effort to do X
The most common forms you'll encounter are ～ようにする for a general statement of intent or habit, and ～ようにしている for an ongoing habit or sustained effort. The negative form, ～ないようにする, is equally common and means "to make an effort not to do X" or "to try to avoid doing X."
Example Sentences
Daily Habits & Self-Improvement
毎日日本語を勉強するようにしています。
Mainichi Nihongo o benkyou suru you ni shite imasu.
I make an effort to study Japanese every day (I am trying to make it a habit).
寝る前にスマホを見ないようにする。
Neru mae ni sumaho o minai you ni suru.
I try not to look at my smartphone before going to bed.
健康のために、野菜をたくさん食べるようにしています。
Kenkou no tame ni, yasai o takusan taberu you ni shite imasu.
For my health, I make an effort to eat a lot of vegetables.
電車の中では、静かにするようにしてください。
Densha no naka de wa, shizuka ni suru you ni shite kudasai.
Please make sure to be quiet inside the train.
朝ごはんをきちんと食べるようにしています。
Asagohan o kichinto taberu you ni shite imasu.
I make an effort to eat breakfast properly.
Work & Responsibilities
次からは遅刻しないようにします。
Tsugi kara wa chikoku shinai you ni shimasu.
From next time, I'll make sure not to be late.
会議の前に資料を読んでおくようにしてください。
Kaigi no mae ni shiryō o yonde oku you ni shite kudasai.
Please make sure to read the materials before the meeting.
同僚としっかりコミュニケーションを取るようにしています。
Dōryō to shikkari komyunikēshon o toru you ni shite imasu.
I make an effort to communicate properly with my colleagues.
Advice & Warnings
危ないから、一人で夜道を歩かないようにしなさい。
Abunai kara, hitori de yomichi o arukanai you ni shinasai.
It's dangerous, so make sure not to walk alone at night.
ストレスをためないように、リラックスする時間を作るようにしましょう。
Sutoresu o tamenai you ni, rirakkusu suru jikan o tsukuru you ni shimashou.
Let's try to make time to relax so as not to accumulate stress.
Future Goals & Commitments
将来、医者になれるように、今から一生懸命勉強するようにします。
Shōrai, isha ni nareru you ni, ima kara isshōkenmei benkyou suru you ni shimasu.
To become a doctor in the future, I will make an effort to study hard from now on.
この問題が再発しないように、対策を練るようにしましょう。
Kono mondai ga saihatsu shinai you ni, taisaku o neru you ni shimashou.
Let's try to devise countermeasures so that this problem does not recur.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing with ~たい (~tai)
❌ 英語を話したいようにする。
✅ 英語を話せるようにする。
～たい expresses desire ("I want to do X"). You cannot combine ～たい directly with ようにする in this way. If you want to express the effort towards being able to do something, you should use the potential form of the verb, for example, 「話せるようにする」 (make an effort to be able to speak). If you mean "I want to make an effort to speak English," the correct phrasing would be 「英語を話すようにしたい。」
Mistake 2: Using the volitional form (～よう/～おう)
❌ 毎日運動しようようにする。
✅ 毎日運動するようにする。
The volitional form (e.g., 行こう, 食べよう) already expresses an intention or suggestion. It does not combine directly with ようにする to form an effort-oriented expression. Remember that ようにする should attach to the plain dictionary form (non-past) of the verb for both affirmative and negative statements.
Mistake 3: Confusing with ～ことにする (koto ni suru)
❌ 早く寝ることにしています。
✅ 早く寝るようにしています。
While both expressions can imply a decision or habit, ～ことにする means "to decide to do X" or "to make it a rule to do X." It emphasizes the decision itself. In contrast, ～ようにする focuses on the ongoing effort or attempt to follow through with a decision or to cultivate a habit. If you are actively trying to go to bed early, even if it's difficult, ようにする is more appropriate. If it's a firm, established rule you've decided on, ことにする might fit better.
Mistake 4: Incorrect negative formation with potential verbs
❌ 忘れられないようにする。
✅ 忘れないようにする。
When forming the negative "try not to do X," you use the plain negative form of the verb (e.g., 忘れない). Do not use the potential negative form (e.g., 忘れられない - cannot forget), unless you specifically mean "to make an effort not to be able to forget," which is highly unlikely. The common intention is simply to avoid the action itself.
Cultural Notes
The use of ようにする highlights a significant cultural value in Japan: the importance of continuous effort, self-improvement (改善 - かいぜん), and diligence (努力 - どりょく). It's not enough to simply desire something or plan it; the act of consistently striving toward a goal is highly valued. This pattern perfectly captures that spirit of active engagement with one's personal development or adherence to social norms.
You'll often hear ～ようにする in advice given by elders, teachers, or supervisors. It encourages junior members to adopt good practices or overcome challenges. It's a gentle yet firm way of guiding behavior without being overly demanding. For instance, a manager might tell a new employee, 「疑問があったら、すぐに質問するようにしてください。」 (Gimon ga attara, sugu ni shitsumon suru you ni shite kudasai - If you have questions, please make sure to ask immediately). This isn't just a suggestion; it's an encouragement to actively cultivate the habit of asking questions.
Furthermore, Japanese society often emphasizes considering others and maintaining harmony. You'll frequently find ～ないようにする (making an effort not to do X) used in this context to show consideration, such as 「周りの人に迷惑をかけないようにしています。」 (Mawari no hito ni meiwaku o kakenai you ni shite imasu - I make an effort not to cause trouble for those around me). This demonstrates a conscious effort to uphold social etiquette and avoid imposing on others.
JLPT Tips
When you encounter ようにする in the JLPT N3 exam, especially in reading comprehension or grammar sections, pay close attention to the context. The key point to remember is its emphasis on a conscious, sustained effort or the formation of a habit. It's more than just a statement of fact or a one-time action; it conveys an ongoing endeavor or a resolve to make something happen repeatedly.
Look for keywords in the surrounding sentences that suggest effort, improvement, or consistency. Examples include 「頑張る」 (ganbaru - to do one's best), 「続ける」 (tsuzukeru - to continue), or 「習慣にする」 (shūkan ni suru - to make a habit of). If a sentence describes someone trying to maintain good health, improve a skill, or adhere to a rule, ようにする is very likely the correct choice.
Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding grammar points like ～ことにする or ～ようとする. Recall that ことにする emphasizes the decision or rule, while ようとする emphasizes an immediate attempt. ようにする, however, focuses on the ongoing effort to implement a decision or build a habit. Practice identifying this subtle but important difference through various example sentences and context clues.
For listening comprehension, recognize that when someone says they are "～ようにしている," they are likely expressing a personal goal or current habit they are actively working on. When they say "～ようにしてください," it's a polite instruction or recommendation for you to make a similar effort. Recognizing these linguistic cues will help you understand the speaker's intent accurately.