Japanese Grammar: にする (ni suru)

Japanese Grammar: にする (ni suru)
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To decide on; to choose; to make (something) into a certain state.

🎯 Primary Function

Expressing a choice, decision, or intentional transformation of state.

📋 Grammar Structure

[Noun] + にする / [Verb-Dictionary Form] + ことにする
[i-adj (remove い)] + く + する
[na-adj] + に + する
[Noun] + にはしない / [Verb-Dictionary Form] + ことにしない

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used frequently in business meetings or when ordering at high-end restaurants using the polite form ‘ni shimasu’.

😊 Informal Situations

Common in daily life with friends (e.g., ‘kore ni suru’ – ‘I’ll take this’).

✍️ Written Language

Used in emails for scheduling and formal reports for stating decisions.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Extremely common in verbal communication for decisions and requests.

💡 Common Applications

Ordering/Choosing
Used when selecting an item from a menu or a list of options.
Example: これにします。(I’ll take this one.)
Making a Decision
Used to finalize a plan or time.
Example: あしたにしましょう。(Let’s make it tomorrow.)
Causing Change
Used when the subject intentionally changes the state of an object or environment.
Example: しずかにしてください。(Please be quiet / Make it quiet.)
📊
Frequency
Very High
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N4
Example Sentences
Example #1
レストランでは、私はカレーにします。
Furigana: レストランでは、わたしはカレーにします。
Romaji: Resutoran de wa, watashi wa karē ni shimasu.
English: I’ll have the curry at the restaurant.
Example #2
飲み物はコーヒーにしますか、それとも紅茶にしますか。
Furigana: のみものはコーヒーにしますか、それともこうちゃにしますか。
Romaji: Nomimono wa kōhī ni shimasu ka, soretomo kōcha ni shimasu ka?
English: Would you like coffee or tea for your drink?
Example #3
次の休みは北海道に行くことにしました。
Furigana: つぎのやすみはほっかいどうにいくことにしました。
Romaji: Tsugi no yasumi wa Hokkaidō ni iku koto ni shimashita.
English: I have decided to go to Hokkaido for my next vacation.
Example #4
プレゼントはネクタイにしましょう。
Furigana: プレゼントはネクタイにしましょう。
Romaji: Purezento wa nekutai ni shimashō.
English: Let’s decide on a tie for the gift.
Example #5
会議は明日の10時にします。
Furigana: かいぎはあしたのじゅうじにします。
Romaji: Kaigi wa ashita no jū-ji ni shimasu.
English: We will have the meeting at 10 AM tomorrow.
Example #6
もっと部屋をきれいにしてください。
Furigana: もっとへやをきれいにしてください。
Romaji: Motto heya o kirei ni shite kudasai.
English: Please make the room cleaner.
Example #7
テレビの音を小さくします。
Furigana: テレビのおとをちいさくします。
Romaji: Terebi no oto o chiisaku shimasu.
English: I will turn down the volume of the TV. (Literally: Make it smaller)
Example #8
今年の誕生日は家でパーティーをすることにしました。
Furigana: ことしのたんじょうびはいえでパーティーをすることにしました。
Romaji: Kotoshi no tanjōbi wa ie de pātī o suru koto ni shimashita.
English: I have decided to have a party at home for my birthday this year.
Example #9
これに決めた!これにします。
Furigana: これにきめた!これにします。
Romaji: Kore ni kimeta! Kore ni shimasu.
English: I’ve decided on this one! I’ll take this.
Example #10
晩ご飯はピザにしませんか。
Furigana: ばんごはんはおピザにしませんか。
Romaji: Bangohan wa piza ni shimasen ka?
English: Why don’t we decide on pizza for dinner?
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Decision on Actions
When the choice involves an action (verb), you must use ‘~koto ni suru’.
Example: 行くことにしました。(I decided to go.)
Active Transformation
Unlike ‘~ni naru’ (to become), ‘~ni suru’ implies the subject is actively causing the change.
Example: 部屋をきれいにします。(I will make the room clean.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ コーヒーをします。
✅ コーヒーにします。
When deciding or choosing, you must use the particle ‘ni’. Using ‘o’ would mean you are literally ‘doing/making’ coffee (brewing it).

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral-polite. It is acceptable in almost all social interactions.
Social Situations: Crucial for social etiquette when being asked for a preference or choice.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese. In some dialects like Kansai-ben, ‘ni suru’ might be replaced by ‘ni shitoru’ for an ongoing decision.

🔍 Subtle Differences

~ni suru vs ~ni naru
‘Ni suru’ is an active choice/action by the speaker. ‘Ni naru’ is a natural change or an external decision.
When to use: Use ‘ni suru’ when you are the one making the choice. Use ‘ni naru’ when the result just happens.

📝 Conjugation Notes

‘Suru’ is an irregular verb. Its polite form is ‘shimasu’, potential is ‘dekiru’, and volitional is ‘shiyō’. When used for state change, ‘i-adjectives’ change to ‘ku’ and ‘na-adjectives’ take ‘ni’.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Ensure the ‘ni’ is short and clear. In the phrase ‘ni suru’, there is usually a slight emphasis on the ‘ni’ to highlight the choice.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘ni suru’ as ‘to set as’ or ‘to target as my choice’. The ‘ni’ particle points to your destination/choice.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top