Meaning & Usage
The grammar pattern ようにする (youni suru) describes a conscious effort to act or establish a habit. It translates to "to try to" or "to make sure to." While English uses "try" for many situations, this Japanese expression specifically targets consistency and mindfulness.
Using ようにする shows you are directing your behavior toward a goal. This goal is the verb right before ように. Unlike ～てみる (te miru), which means trying something once to see what happens, ようにする implies repeated action. It is about managing your own behavior over time rather than a one-time experiment.
In daily conversation, you will often hear ようにしています (youni shite imasu). This form describes current lifestyle choices. For example, if you are on a diet, you might say you are "trying to eat more vegetables." This means you have set a rule for yourself and are working to follow it. Additionally, the form するようにしてください (suru youni shite kudasai) is a polite way to give advice. It suggests the listener should make an effort without sounding bossy or demanding.
Think of this grammar as a bridge between your intention and a result. The ように part means "in such a way that," and する means "to do." Literally, you are "doing things in such a way that" a specific outcome happens. This reflects a focus on discipline and intentionality.
Structure & Formation
The construction is simple. It attaches to the dictionary form for positive efforts and the ない form for things you are trying to avoid.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Habit | Verb (Dictionary) + ようにする | 毎日走るようにする (Try to run every day) |
| Negative Habit | Verb (Nai-form) + ようにする | 甘いものを食べないようにする (Try not to eat sweets) |
| Ongoing Habit | Verb + ようにしている | 野菜食べるようにしている (Making it a habit to eat vegetables) |
| Polite Request | Verb + ようにしてください | 忘れないようにしてください (Please make sure not to forget) |
This grammar works almost exclusively with volitional verbs—actions you can actually control. You wouldn't use it for things like the weather or natural physical reactions.
Example Sentences
Daily Habits and Health
健康のために、毎晩八時間寝るようにしています。
kenkou no tame ni, maiban hachijikan neru youni shite imasu.
I make sure to sleep eight hours every night for my health.
最近、できるだけ階段を使うようにしています。
saikin, dekiru dake kaidan wo tsukau youni shite imasu.
Lately, I've been trying to use the stairs whenever possible.
太らないように、夜遅くに食べないようにしています。
futoranai youni, yoru osoku ni tabenai youni shite imasu.
I make an effort not to eat late at night so I don't gain weight.
Work and Responsibility
会議に遅れないようにしてください。
kaigi ni okurenai youni shite kudasai.
Please make sure not to be late for the meeting.
仕事のメールはすぐに返信するようにしています。
shigoto no meeru wa sugu ni henshin suru youni shite imasu.
I make it a point to reply to work emails immediately.
報告書にミスがないように、最後にもう一度確認するようにしました。
houkokusho ni misu ga nai youni, saigo ni mou ichido kakunin suru youni shimashita.
I made sure to check the report one last time to avoid any mistakes.
Social Situations
静かにするようにしてください。赤ちゃんが寝ています。
shizuka ni suru youni shite kudasai. akachan ga nete imasu.
Please try to stay quiet. The baby is sleeping.
彼に秘密を言わないようにしてください。
kare ni himitsu wo iwanai youni shite kudasai.
Please make sure not to tell him the secret.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing with ～ようとする
❌ 窓を開けるようにしました、でも開きませんでした。
✅ 窓を開けようとしましたが、開きませんでした。
Explanation: ～ようとする is for a physical attempt at a specific moment. ようにする is for habits or ensuring an outcome over time. Opening a window is a one-time physical act, so use ようとする.
Mistake 2: Using it for one-time experiences
❌ 新しいラーメンを食べるようにしました。
✅ 新しいラーメンを食べてみました。
Explanation: Use ～てみる if you are just "trying something out" to see if you like it. ようにする implies you are trying to make eating that ramen a regular habit, which sounds odd for a single meal.
Mistake 3: Describing current habits incorrectly
❌ 毎日運動するようにします。
✅ 毎日運動するようにしています。
Explanation: するようにします means "I will start trying to." If you are already in the habit of exercising, you must use the continuous form ようにしている.
Cultural Notes
In Japan, showing effort (努力 - doryoku) is highly respected. By saying you are "trying to" do something (ようにしている), you sound humble and disciplined. It acknowledges that the goal takes work. Simply saying "I do X" can sometimes sound a bit blunt or overconfident.
The phrase するようにしてください (suru youni shite kudasai) is essential for workplace harmony. Direct commands can feel aggressive. Phrasing a request as "please make an effort to do X" softens the tone. It suggests that you trust the other person to manage their own behavior, which helps maintain 和 (wa) or social balance.
Related Grammar Points
- Mastering 〜ようになる: Describing Changes in Ability and Habit (Grammar N4)
- Experience and Occasional Actions: Using ことがある (Grammar N4)
- ことになる — It Has Been Decided (Grammar N4)
- てもらう — Have Someone Do / Receive a Favor (Grammar N4)
- Capturing the Moment: Using Tokoro da (Grammar N4)
- Bakari (ばかり) — Just Did, Nothing But (Grammar N4)
JLPT Tips
For the N4 exam, focus on the difference between ようにする and ようになる. Remember: する involves your will and effort. なる describes a change that happens naturally or because of external factors. Questions often test this by asking you to choose the correct ending for a sentence about a new lifestyle change.
Watch the tense carefully. If a question describes a current routine, look for ようにしている. If it's a request from a boss or teacher, look for ようにしてください. Finally, remember that you negate the action verb (e.g., ないようにする), not the する part. You are making an effort not to do something.