ようにする (you ni suru) – Meaning & Usage

ようにする means make sure to; try to. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express a conscious effort or resolution to do something in natural Japanese.

This grammar point is essential for talking about habits, self-improvement, and requests in everyday conversation. If you want to say you are trying to build a new habit or avoid a mistake, ようにする is the pattern you need.

What does ようにする mean?

Use ようにする when you want to express make sure to; try to in a Japanese sentence.

Natural translations include:

make sure to
try to

How to form ようにする

Verb (dictionary form) + ようにする

Verb (negative form) + ようにする

Examples of the pattern:

聞(き)くようにする
忘(わす)れないようにする
食(た)べすぎないようにする

Related form: ようになる

When is ようにする used?

Use ようにする in situations like:

making a resolution or building a habit
asking someone to pay attention to a detail
describing ongoing efforts to change behavior

Tone and register:

neutral; common in both spoken and written Japanese
frequently appears in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday conversation

ようにする example sentences

毎日(まいにち)日本語(にほんご)を聞(き)くようにしています。

I make sure to listen to Japanese every day.

habit

忘(わす)れないようにしてください。

Please make sure you do not forget.

request

早(はや)く寝(ね)るようにします。

I will try to go to bed early.

intention

漢字(かんじ)を毎日(まいにち)復習(ふくしゅう)するようにしています。

I make sure to review kanji every day.

effort

甘(あま)い物(もの)を食(た)べすぎないようにしています。

I try not to eat too many sweets.

self-control

Nuance of ようにする

The key nuance is make sure to; try to in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.

This matters because ようにする can express ability, comparison, intention, appearance, effort, or difficulty depending on the surrounding sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.

ようにする vs ようになる

Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.

ようにする

make sure to; try to

Focuses on personal effort and a conscious decision to act.

ようになる

to reach a point where; come to

Describes natural change or a shift in ability over time, often outside the speaker's direct control.

Quick contrast examples:

Target pattern: 毎日(まいにち)日本語(にほんご)を聞(き)くようにしています。 — I make sure to listen to Japanese every day.
Related pattern with ようになる: compare what changes in difficulty, comparison, intention, appearance, or certainty.

Common mistakes with ようにする

❌ 毎日(まいにち)日本語(にほんご)を聞(き)きますようにする。

✅ 毎日(まいにち)日本語(にほんご)を聞(き)くようにする。

Using the wrong verb form before ようにする. Attach the plain dictionary form, not the polite ます form.

❌ 早(はや)く寝(ね)るようになる。

✅ 早(はや)く寝(ね)るようにする。

Confusing ようにする with ようになる. Use ようにする when you are making a personal effort.

❌ Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context.

✅ Read the full sentence to confirm whether the meaning is effort, comparison, or ability.

Context matters. よう connects to several grammar patterns, so the surrounding sentence determines the correct reading.

Is ようにする on the JLPT?

Yes. ようにする is commonly taught as JLPT N4 grammar.

Recognize it in reading and listening.
Understand its nuance in context.
Use it in simple original sentences.

Practice questions for ようにする

1 Write one short sentence using the basic structure. production

2 Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point. variation

3 Compare your sentence with the related pattern ようになる. comparison

Learning path for ようにする

To learn ようにする efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.

1 Make one short sentence with ようにする without looking at the pattern chart.

2 Compare it with ようになる. Choosing between them will help you understand the nuance.

3 Add ことにする or ておく to see how the nuance changes.

4 Write one sentence that uses ようにする in its most literal meaning, one sentence that changes the subject or time expression, and one sentence that contrasts it with a related pattern.

ようになる — come to be able to; start to.
ことにする — to decide to.
ておく — contrasts with this pattern from the て-form action-flow and auxiliary verb grammar group.
ようと思う — be thinking of doing.

Learn ようにする with Hane

If you want to review ようにする together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

FAQ about ようにする

What does ようにする (you ni suru) mean in Japanese?

ようにする (you ni suru) means “make sure to; try to”. It is JLPT N4 grammar. Use ようにする when you want to express make sure to; try to in a Japanese sentence.

How do you form ようにする (you ni suru)?

Verb (dictionary form) + ようにする Verb (negative form) + ようにする

What is an example sentence with ようにする (you ni suru)?

毎日日本語を聞くようにしています。 — I make sure to listen to Japanese every day.