〜ようになる vs 〜ようにする: “It Came to Be” vs “I Make Sure To” in Japanese

You’ve been studying Japanese for a while. One day you want to say: “I’ve gotten to the point where I can read hiragana.” Another day you want to say: “I make sure to study every day.” Both sentences involve a kind of change — but in Japanese, they use completely different grammar.

That’s the difference between 〜ようになる and 〜ようにする.

These two patterns look almost identical on paper. But mix them up and you’re saying something completely different — either that a change happened on its own, or that you’re actively making it happen. Let’s break them down clearly.

At a Glance

What Does 〜ようになる Mean?

ようになる describes a change in state or ability that happened gradually or naturally — not because you forced it, but because of growth, practice, or circumstances over time.

The word なる (to become) is the key. The change happened to you or developed on its own.

Formation

[Verb dictionary form] + ようになる
[Potential verb form] + ようになる
[Verb ない form] + ようになる

• 食べる（たべる）→ 食べるようになる — came to eat (something)
• 読める（よめる）→ 読めるようになる — came to be able to read
• 食べない → 食べないようになった — came to not eat (something)

Note on the potential form: The potential form of a verb (e.g., 読める、話せる、できる) means “can do.” Using it with ようになる is one of the most natural and common combinations: it means an ability developed over time.

Examples

Notice: in none of these examples is anyone forcing the change. It unfolded naturally.

What Does 〜ようにする Mean?

ようにする describes a deliberate effort or habit you maintain. You’re making a conscious choice — deciding to do something, making sure something happens, or trying to keep it up.

The word する (to do) is the key. You are the active agent making it happen.

Formation

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

• 食べる → 食べるようにする — make sure to eat / try to eat
• 食べない → 食べないようにする — make sure not to eat / try not to eat

Note on ようにしている vs ようにした: The て-form + いる (ようにしている) is very common and means “I’m making it a practice / I’m in the habit of.” ようにした means “I made a decision to” (past, one-time decision).

Examples

Notice: in all of these, there is a will or effort behind the action. It’s ongoing, intentional behavior.

Side-by-Side Comparison: The Key Difference

Here’s the clearest way to see the difference:

The bottom line:
– ようになる = the situation changed. Something is different now than before.
– ようにする = you are changing the situation. You’re in charge.

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Mistake 1: Using ようになる when you mean effort

Wrong: 毎日勉強するようになっています。
(This sounds like studying every day became a habit on its own — as if it just happened to you.)

Right: 毎日勉強するようにしています。
(You are making a deliberate effort to study every day.)

Mistake 2: Using ようにする for natural change in ability

Wrong (in most contexts): 漢字が読めるようにしました。
(While ようにする can sometimes express working toward an ability in formal/instructional contexts, in everyday speech this sounds unnatural — like you flipped a switch to gain the skill rather than having it develop gradually.)

Right: 漢字が読めるようになりました。
(Your ability to read kanji developed over time.)

Mistake 3: Forgetting the potential form with ようになる

When talking about gaining an ability, Japanese speakers almost always use the potential form before ようになる.

Less natural: 日本語を話すようになった。 (I came to speak Japanese — slightly ambiguous)
More natural: 日本語が話せるようになった。 (I came to be able to speak Japanese — clearly states an ability)

Decision Flowchart: Which One Do I Use?

Are you talking about a change in ability or behavior?
         |
         v
Is it something that happened gradually ON ITS OWN?
   YES → ようになる
         (potential or dictionary form)

   NO → Are YOU making a deliberate effort or maintaining a habit?
         YES → ようにする
               (dictionary or negative form)

Quick test questions to ask yourself:
– Did the change just happen over time? → ようになる
– Am I making sure something happens? → ようにする
– Am I talking about an ability I gained? → [potential form] + ようになる
– Am I describing a habit I’m keeping? → ようにする (often + ている)

Real-Life Usage: Conversations and Writing

These forms appear constantly in everyday Japanese — in conversation, social media, and writing. Here are some natural examples you might actually hear:

In conversation:

A: 最近、日本語うまくなりましたね。
B: ありがとうございます。毎日少し話すようにしているので。

A: Your Japanese has gotten better lately.
B: Thank you. I’ve been making sure to speak a little every day.

In a diary or journal:

去年まで全然料理しなかったけど、最近自分で作るようになった。健康のために、野菜を多く食べるようにしている。

Until last year I never cooked at all, but lately I’ve come to make my own meals. For my health, I’m making sure to eat more vegetables.

Notice how both forms appear naturally together — one for the change that happened, one for the ongoing effort.

Quick Quiz

Fill in the blank with ようになった or ようにしている (or ようにした).

1. 子どもの頃は魚が嫌いだったが、最近食べる＿＿＿＿。
(I used to hate fish as a kid, but lately I’ve come to eat it.)

2. 健康のために、毎朝ジョギングする＿＿＿＿。
(For my health, I make sure to jog every morning.)

3. たくさん練習したので、速く泳げる＿＿＿＿。
(After a lot of practice, I came to be able to swim fast.)

4. 夜遅くに食べない＿＿＿＿。
(I’m making sure not to eat late at night.)

5. 日本に来てから、お茶をよく飲む＿＿＿＿。
(Since coming to Japan, I’ve come to drink tea a lot.)

Answers

1. ようになった — natural change in preference over time
2. ようにしている — deliberate ongoing habit
3. ようになった — ability developed through practice
4. ようにしている — conscious ongoing effort
5. ようになった — behavioral change that happened naturally

Summary

The next time you want to say “I’ve gotten better at Japanese” — that’s ようになる, a natural change. The next time you want to say “I make sure to speak Japanese every day” — that’s ようにする, your deliberate choice.

Keep Learning

If you found this useful, check out these related articles on JPyokoso:

• 〜ても vs 〜たら: “Even If” vs “When/If” — another classic N4 pair that trips up English speakers
• 〜ている vs 〜てある: What’s the Real Difference? — understanding the agentive vs. resultant state distinction that underlies many Japanese grammar points

Target level: JLPT N4 / Intermediate