to decide on (にする) – Japanese Grammar にする (ni suru)

Q: What JLPT level is にする?

JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures

Q: How do you use にする in a sentence?

Attach にする to the appropriate verb or noun form. To decide on

Q: Is にする formal or casual Japanese?

にする can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

にする

N5 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

ni suru

to decide on

い-adjectives i-adjectives まだ〜ていません mada ~te imasen はどうですか wa dou desu ka ませんか masen ka 方 kata なあ naa があります ga arimasu が ga をください o kudasai がほしい ga hoshii まだ mada んです ndesu てある te aru けど kedo ほうがいい hou ga ii じゃない・ではない janai / dewa nai の no か〜か ka~ka ね ne なくちゃ nakucha い-adjectives i-adjectives まだ〜ていません mada ~te imasen はどうですか wa dou desu ka ませんか masen ka 方 kata なあ naa があります ga arimasu が ga をください o kudasai がほしい ga hoshii まだ mada んです ndesu てある te aru けど kedo ほうがいい hou ga ii じゃない・ではない janai / dewa nai の no か〜か ka~ka ね ne なくちゃ nakucha

🃏 Flashcard

にする

ni suru

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to decide on

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N5

Beginner · Basic sentence structures

Reading ni suru

Post ID 50650

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

to decide on

📖 How to use it

Expresses the act of deciding on a choice from options.

Attaches to Attach to a noun phrase directly followed by にする, or to a verb in the plain present form followed by ことにする. For nouns, just add にする. Note that the verb pattern uses こと, not の.

When you choose one thing over another, you use にする. It is like saying 'I'll take this one' in a shop or 'I'll go with the ramen' at a restaurant. You attach it to the noun that you are choosing. For example, if you are at a counter and you point at the cake, you say ケーキにする. For actions, you use the plain form of the verb plus こと, like 行くことにする, meaning 'I'll decide to go.' The こと makes the verb into a noun phrase that you are choosing. This pattern is common in everyday conversation when making final decisions. Note that にする also has another meaning 'to make something into,' as in 部屋をきれいにする (make the room clean), but that is a different usage. Here, focus on the 'decide on' meaning.

コーヒーにします。

Koohii ni shimasu.

I'll have coffee.

旅行は京都にする。

Ryokou wa Kyouto ni suru.

I'll choose Kyoto for the trip.

電車で行くことにする。

Densha de iku koto ni suru.

I'll decide to go by train.

Not にする vs. ことにするにする is used for choosing a concrete noun (like food or place). ことにする is used for deciding to do an action, and attaches to the plain verb + こと. For example, 毎日運動することにした means 'I decided to exercise every day.' The pattern のにする is not standard for this purpose.

Register Neutral and common in both speaking and writing, but especially frequent in spoken Japanese when making choices.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

にする

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat にする three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using にする. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns

to (indicates direction / destination)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern にする mean? ▼

To decide on

What JLPT level is にする? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use にする in a sentence? ▼

Attach にする (ni suru) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is にする formal or casual Japanese? ▼

にする is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember にする long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.