to try to; to make sure that (ようにする) – Japanese Grammar ようにする (you ni suru)

Q: What JLPT level is ようにする?

JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Q: How do you use ようにする in a sentence?

Attach ようにする to the appropriate verb or noun form. To try to; to make sure that

Q: Is ようにする formal or casual Japanese?

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

ようにする

N4 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

you ni suru

to try to; to make sure that

ではないか dewa nai ka にみえる ni mieru と to てしまう / ちゃう te shimau / chau ということ to iu koto やっと yatto そうに・そうな sou ni / sou na さっき sakki おきに oki ni がり gari てくる te kuru そうだ sou da [1] など nado かどうか ka dou ka たらどう tara dou かな kana ようだ you da 頃 koro / goro 場合は baai wa みたいだ mitai da ではないか dewa nai ka にみえる ni mieru と to てしまう / ちゃう te shimau / chau ということ to iu koto やっと yatto そうに・そうな sou ni / sou na さっき sakki おきに oki ni がり gari てくる te kuru そうだ sou da [1] など nado かどうか ka dou ka たらどう tara dou かな kana ようだ you da 頃 koro / goro 場合は baai wa みたいだ mitai da

🃏 Flashcard

ようにする

you ni suru

Tap to reveal usage

to try to; to make sure that

Tap to test your recall · +10 XP

📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N4

Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Reading you ni suru

Post ID 50808

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

to try to; to make sure that

📖 How to use it

Expresses a deliberate effort or habit to ensure something happens or doesn't happen.

Attaches to Attach to the dictionary form (for positive actions) or the ない-form (for negative actions) of a verb, then add ようにする.

This pattern describes a conscious decision or ongoing effort to make a certain behavior a habit or to ensure a result. It often translates as 'I try to...' or 'I make sure to...' in English. The ない-form plus ようにする means 'to make sure not to do' something. For example, to express a daily routine like trying to wake up early, you can say 早く起きるようにしています. The verb before ようにする is always in a non-past (dictionary or ない) form, and it often appears with ています to show a current habit or with てください for a polite request or instruction. This pattern is common in both speaking and writing, though in very casual speech you might just use the plain form, but ようにする is fine in most contexts.

毎日、野菜を食べるようにしています。

Mainichi, yasai o taberu you ni shite imasu.

I try to eat vegetables every day.

寝る前に、スマホを見ないようにしてください。

Neru mae ni, sumaho o minai you ni shite kudasai.

Please make sure not to look at your phone before sleeping.

電車の中で、大きな声で話さないようにする。

Densha no naka de, ooki na koe de hanasanai you ni suru.

I make sure not to talk loudly on the train.

Not ように言うようにする is about your own effort or instruction to someone to ensure a behavior, while ように言う means 'to tell someone to do something' and requires a quoted action. For example, 早く帰るように言った means 'I told (someone) to go home early,' not that you tried to go home early yourself.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

ようにする

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

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

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Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

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

⏰

Spaced Review

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

🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns

← Previous

ようになる

to reach the point that; to turn into

ようと思う

thinking of doing; planning to

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern ようにする mean? ▼

To try to; to make sure that

What JLPT level is ようにする? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use ようにする in a sentence? ▼

Attach ようにする (you 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 ようにする formal or casual Japanese? ▼

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

How can I remember ようにする 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.