ようにする
Try To/make Sure to
The pattern ようにする is used when you are making a conscious effort to do something, often to form a new habit or to make sure a specific result happens. It translates to 'try to,' 'make an effort to,' or 'make sure to.'
How It Works
This pattern is formed by attaching ようにする to the dictionary form (for affirmative effort) or the ない-form (for effort to avoid something) of a verb.
Key Nuances:
- Habitual Effort: When used as ようにしている, it describes an ongoing habit or a rule you are currently following (e.g., 'I am making it a point to exercise').
- Future Intent: When used as ようにします, it expresses a promise or a firm intention to start an effort (e.g., 'I will make sure to be on time').
- Indirect Requests: When used as ようにしてください, it functions as a polite, indirect request or piece of advice, often used for rules or long-term behavior rather than a single immediate action.
- Potentiality: It is often paired with the potential form to show effort toward gaining a new ability.
It is important to distinguish this from てみる, which is used for 'trying something out' to see the result, whereas ようにする is about 'trying' through sustained effort.
Examples (4)
- 健康のために、毎日野菜を食べるようにしています。
For my health, I make an effort to eat vegetables every day.
Word by Word: Health for-the-sake-of, every day vegetables (object) eat way-to doing am.
The use of ようにしている indicates that eating vegetables is a conscious, ongoing habit the speaker is maintaining.
- 明日は絶対に遅刻しないようにしてください。
Please make sure not to be late tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow (topic) absolutely lateness do-not way-to please-do.
Using the negative ない-form with ようにしてください creates a polite but firm request for someone to ensure a specific outcome (not being late).
- これからはもっと早く寝るようにします。
I will try to go to bed earlier from now on.
Word by Word: From now (topic) more early sleep way-to will-do.
The ようにします form shows a declaration of intent to start a new effort or habit.
- 日本語で話せるように毎日練習しています。
I am practicing every day so that I can speak Japanese.
Word by Word: Japanese-language in speak-can way-to every-day practicing am.
Here, the potential form 話せる（はなせる） is used to show effort directed toward achieving an ability.
Common Mistakes
Using ようにする for a one-time physical attempt.
窓を開けるようにしましたが、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。For a physical attempt at a single action (like trying to open a stuck window), use the volitional + とした pattern instead. ようにする is for intentional habits or ensuring outcomes.
Confusing a firm decision with a conscious effort.
今日からタバコをやめるようにしました。今日からタバコをやめることにしました。If you have made a firm decision to do something, use decide to. ようにする focuses more on the 'trying' and the 'effort' rather than the act of deciding itself.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'ようにする', you need to be comfortable with basic verb conjugations, specifically the dictionary (plain) form and the negative (ない) form. Since this pattern describes an effort toward a specific state or habit, understanding how verbs can modify or lead into other phrases is key.
Related Patterns
- ことにするDecide to
While ようにする focuses on the effort to maintain a habit, ことにする focuses on the initial decision to do something.
Level 3 - ようになるCome To/become Able
ようになる describes a change in state or ability that happens (often naturally), whereas ようにする is the active effort to cause that change.
Level 2 - ようとするTry To/about to
ようとする is used for immediate, one-time physical attempts or actions about to happen, while ようにする is for long-term effort or habits.
Level 3 - てみるTry Doing
てみる means to 'try something out' to see what it's like (experimenting), whereas ようにする is 'trying' in the sense of exerting effort toward a goal.
Level 2 - ないようにSo as Not to
This is the negative version of the pattern, used to express making an effort 'not to' do something.
Level 2 - ことにしているMake a Habit of
Similar to ようにしている, but implies a stricter, self-imposed rule or a firm decision that has become a routine.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ようにする in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Japanese lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
