Posted inN4 Grammar

Mastering にする: Making Choices and Decisions in Japanese (JLPT N4 Grammar)

Posted inN4 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Expressing a decision, choice, or intention regarding a noun or action, or changing something into a certain state.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate a decision or choice about something (a noun) or to decide to perform an action (using ことにする). It can also mean “to make something into a certain state” (using Noun/Na-adjective stem + にする).

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + にする Verb (Dictionary Form) + ことにする Na-adjective (stem) + にする い-adjective (-く) + する (Note: This is different, but related to changing state, often confused)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used in relatively formal settings when stating a decision, although more formal alternatives might exist depending on the level of politeness required.

😊 Informal Situations

Extremely common in everyday conversation for making simple decisions like ordering food or choosing an item.

✍️ Written Language

Appears in written form when describing decisions made by individuals or groups.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very frequently used, especially when making decisions on the spot or explaining a past decision.

💡 Common Applications

Choosing/Deciding on a Noun
Used to state which noun you are choosing or have decided on. Very common when ordering or selecting items.
Example: 飲み物は何にしますか？ (Nomimono wa nan ni shimasu ka?) – What will you have to drink? / コーヒーにします。 (Koohii ni shimasu.) – I’ll have coffee.
Deciding to do a Verb Action
Used with the nominalizer こと (koto) to express a decision to perform a specific verb action.
Example: 毎日、日本語を勉強することにしました。 (Mainichi, Nihongo o benkyou suru koto ni shimashita.) – I decided to study Japanese every day.
Making Something into a State
Used to change something’s state or nature. Attaches to the stem of Na-adjectives or Nouns.
Example: 部屋をきれいにします。 (Heya o kirei ni shimasu.) – I will make the room clean. (きれい is a Na-adjective)
📊
Frequency
Very High
🎚️
Difficulty
Low-Intermediate (for N4 learners, the concept is straightforward but mastering the different applications and nuances requires practice).
Example Sentences
ランチはパスタにします。
I will choose pasta for lunch.
どのペンにしますか？この青いペンにします。
Which pen will you choose? I will choose this blue pen.
来年、日本へ留学することにしました。
I decided to study abroad in Japan next year.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Noun vs. Verb Decision
Use 「Noun + にする」 for choosing a noun and 「Verb (Dict) + ことにする」 for deciding to do an action.
Example: 「ケーキにします。」 (I’ll choose cake.) vs. 「明日から運動することにします。」 (I’ll decide to exercise from tomorrow.)
Making Something into a State
「Noun/Na-adj stem + にする」 is used for changing the state of something.
Example: 「部屋をきれいにします。」 (I will make the room clean.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using にする directly after a verb.
✅ Use ことにする after a verb in dictionary form to express deciding to do that action.
にする must follow a noun or the nominalized form of a verb (こと). It cannot directly follow a verb.
❌ Confusing にする with になる.
✅ にする means “to decide on / to make into” (implies agent’s will), while になる means “to become” (indicates change of state, often natural or unintentional).
「医者になります」 (I will become a doctor – natural progression/goal) vs. 「医者にします」 (I will make [someone] a doctor / I will choose a doctor – implies active choice or designation). The “choose a doctor” meaning is less common but possible.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Can be used in various politeness levels by conjugating する (します, etc.). Generally quite neutral.
Social Situations: Used widely in daily life, from ordering food to discussing future plans.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese, no significant regional variations in core usage.

🔍 Subtle Differences

にする vs. 〜に決める (にきめる)
にする is often used for simpler, everyday choices. 〜に決める implies a firmer, more definitive decision, often after consideration.
When to use: Use にする for casual choices (like food). Use 〜に決める for more significant or final decisions (like choosing a university).
〜にする vs. 〜たい (〜たい)
〜にする expresses a decision or choice. 〜たい expresses a desire or wish.
When to use: Use にする when you have decided or chosen something. Use 〜たい when you want something or want to do something.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

にする is a regular する verb. Conjugate する like any other Group 3 verb (e.g., します, しません, しました, しませんでした, しましょう, してください).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced “ni suru”. The に particle is pronounced lightly. The する part follows standard Japanese pronunciation rules.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 「に」 as pointing *to* the chosen item or action, and 「する」 as “doing” or “making” that choice or state. Noun + にする = “do [choice] on [noun]”. ことにする = “do [the action] as a choice”.

Practice Exercises
レストランで、飲み物は＿＿にしますか？
お茶に
お茶が
お茶と
お茶へ
毎日、ジョギング＿＿ことにしました。
する
して
しない
すること
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