Posted inN4 Grammar

Mastering ようにする (you ni suru): Expressing Effort and Habit in Japanese

Posted inN4 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To make an effort to do something; to try to do something (regularly or as a goal).

🎯 Primary Function

Expresses a conscious effort or a resolution to perform an action or to make something happen.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb Plain Form (Dictionary Form or Negative Form) + ようにする

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used, but often paired with more formal verbs and contexts.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common in daily conversation when talking about personal goals or habits.

✍️ Written Language

Used in personal writings, diaries, or reports on efforts made.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Frequently used in everyday speech.

💡 Common Applications

Forming positive habits
Used to express the effort to start or continue a beneficial habit.
Example: 毎日、運動するようにしています。 (Mainichi, undou suru you ni shite imasu.) – I make an effort to exercise every day.
Breaking bad habits
Used to express the effort to stop doing something.
Example: タバコを吸わないようにします。 (Tabako o suwanai you ni shimasu.) – I will make an effort not to smoke.
Setting goals for improvement
Used when stating a goal or resolution to improve something.
Example: 日本語が上手になるように、頑張ります。 (Nihongo ga jouzu ni naru you ni, ganbarimasu.) – I will work hard to become good at Japanese.
📊
Frequency
Very common in daily conversation.
🎚️
Difficulty
N4
Example Sentences
毎日、野菜を食べるようにしています。
I am making an effort to eat vegetables every day.
寝る前にスマホを見ないようにします。
I will make an effort not to look at my smartphone before sleeping.
日本語のニュースを聞くようにしています。
I am making an effort to listen to Japanese news.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Focus on Effort
This pattern emphasizes the act of making a conscious effort or trying, rather than simply stating an ability (できる) or a fixed decision (ことにする).
Example: 泳ぐことができます。(Oyogu koto ga dekimasu.) – I can swim. (Ability) 毎日泳ぐようにしています。(Mainichi oyogu you ni shite imasu.) – I make an effort to swim every day. (Effort/Habit)
Ongoing or Repeated Action
It often implies an ongoing effort or something you plan to do regularly or habitually.
Example: 早起きするようにしています。(Hayaku oki suru you ni shite imasu.) – I am trying to get up early (as a habit).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Confusing with ことにする (koto ni suru)
✅ Use ようにする for effort/habit, and ことにする for a decided action or plan.
ことにする is a decision you make at a specific point in time. ようにする is about the ongoing effort or attempt to establish something as a state or habit.
❌ Confusing with できる (dekiru)
✅ Use ようにする for effort/habit, and できる for ability.
できる means “can” or “is able to do.” ようにする means “to try to do” or “to make an effort to do.”

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Generally neutral, politeness depends on the verb and ending ます/です.
Social Situations: Used in various situations when discussing personal habits, goals, or efforts.
Regional Variations: Standard usage.

🔍 Subtle Differences

ようにする vs ことにする
ようにする: expresses effort, habit, or attempt. ことにする: expresses a decision or plan.
When to use: Use ようにする for ongoing effort/habit formation. Use ことにする for a one-time or decided action.
ようにする vs V-tai (したい)
ようにする: expresses effort towards a goal/habit. たい: expresses a desire.
When to use: Use ようにする for the *effort* to achieve something or form a habit. Use たい to state that you *want* to do something.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

ようにする is a standard する verb, so it conjugates like する: – Present: ようにする / ようにします – Past: ようにした / ようにしました – Negative: ようにしない / ようにしません – たい form: ようにしたい (Want to make an effort… – less common)

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The “ni” (に) is pronounced clearly. The “you” (よう) is a long vowel sound.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of “ようにする” as “making it happen like this (ように) + doing (する)” – making an effort to make something happen.

Practice Exercises
健康のために、毎日牛乳を（　　）ようにしています。
飲む
飲める
飲みます
飲むこと
日本語を（　　）ように、毎日勉強しています。
上手になりたい
上手になる
上手になった
上手になること
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