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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜ようにする

    〜ようにする

    〜ようにする

    This means you try to do something. You make an effort to do it. Or you try not to do something.

    N4KMT3NeutralStandardVerb ConstructionMixedContinued Effort And StateGrammar

    Verb [dictionary form] + ようにするPrimary
    Verb [ない-form] + ようにする

    This means you try to do something. You make an effort to do it. Or you try not to do something.

    健けん康こうのために、これからは毎まいにちさん日じゅっぷんある30分 歩 くようにします。

    For my health, from now on I will make a point of walking for 30 minutes every day.

    PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingVolitionalMedicine & HealthDaily Life
    会かい議ぎ中ちゅうは、個こ人じん的てきなメッセージを確かく認にんしないようにしてください。

    Please try not to check personal messages during the meeting.

    FormalNon PastNegativeSentence EndingRequestWork & CareerBusiness & Finance
    子こ供どもが怖こわがらないように、お医い者しゃさんは優やさしい声こえで話はなしかけるようにした。

    The doctor made an effort to speak in a gentle voice so that the child wouldn't be scared.

    NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeMedicine & HealthFamily & Relationships
    できるだけ自じ国こくの言こと葉ばで話はなすようにしているが、難むずかしい単ご語 は英えい語ごを使つかう。

    I try to speak in my native language as much as possible, but I use English for difficult words.

    NeutralProgressiveAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEducationCulture & Traditions
    もう夜よる遅おそいから、大おおきい音おとを立たてないようにしてね。

    It's already late at night, so try not to make loud noises, okay?

    CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingRequestDaily LifeHome & Housing

    This grammar shows that something is not always easy. It takes effort. You might need to work at it. Or other things might make it hard.

    This is different from "〜ことにする". That means you made a decision. This means you are trying to do something. You are putting in effort. For example, "I decided to quit smoking" is a decision. "I will try not to smoke" is an effort.

    Use this when you want to give advice. It makes your suggestion sound gentle. It is not a strong command. You can ask someone to try something new.

    Contrasts with(1)

    〜ことにする

    You use this to say what you have decided to do. It shows that you made the choice yourself.

    Less formal alternatives(2)

    〜ようと努める

    To strive to (do something); to make a concerted effort to (do something).

    〜ようと心がける

    You try hard to do something. You keep it in your mind to do it.

    辞書形

    This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

    ない形

    This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    Variants

    • 〜ようにしている

    less_formal_than

    • 〜ようと努める
    • 〜ようと心がける

    contrasts_with

    • 〜ことにする

    prerequisite

    • 辞書形
    • ない形
    • 〜よう

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