ようになる vs ようにする: Key Differences

Why 「ようになる」 and 「ようにする」 Are Easy to Confuse

When you study Japanese, you often meet expressions that look almost the same but point in very different directions.

Two common examples are:

「ようになる」 (yō ni naru / to come to be, to become able to)

「ようにする」 (yō ni suru / to make an effort to, to make it a habit to)

They both contain 「ように」, so many learners feel that they should mean something similar. But in real Japanese, they work quite differently.

Look at these two sentences.

日本語が少しずつ聞き取れるようになりました。
I have gradually become able to understand spoken Japanese.

毎日、日本語のニュースを聞くようにしています。
I make it a habit to listen to Japanese news every day.

The first sentence is about a change in ability. Before, the speaker could not understand much Japanese. Now, little by little, they can.

The second sentence is about intentional action. The speaker consciously tries to listen to Japanese news every day.

This difference is very important for JLPT reading and grammar questions. If you only translate both vaguely as “come to” or “try to,” you may miss the logic of the sentence.

The Main Difference: 「ようになる」 Is Change, 「ようにする」 Is Effort

The key idea is simple.

「ようになる」 shows that a state changes.

「ようにする」 shows that someone intentionally tries to do something.

In other words:

「ようになる」 focuses on the result.

「ようにする」 focuses on the action or effort.

Once you understand this, many JLPT sentences become much easier to read.

「ようになる」: A Natural Change or Change in Ability

「ようになる」 is often used when something was not true before, but becomes true later.

It is especially common with ability.

漢字が読めるようになりました。
I became able to read kanji.

This sentence does not simply mean “I tried to read kanji.” It means that the speaker’s ability changed. Before, reading kanji was difficult. Now, the speaker can read them.

Here are more examples.

日本語で簡単なメールが書けるようになりました。
I became able to write simple emails in Japanese.

先生の話が少しずつ分かるようになりました。
I gradually became able to understand what the teacher says.

最近、朝早く起きられるようになりました。
Recently, I have become able to wake up early.

In each example, the important point is not the effort itself. The important point is that the state has changed.

Of course, effort may be behind that change. But the expression 「ようになる」 puts the spotlight on the change or result.

「ようにする」: Intentional Action and Habit Building

「ようにする」 is used when someone consciously tries to do something, or tries not to do something.

It often expresses effort, self-control, or a personal rule.

毎日、単語を10個覚えるようにしています。
I make it a habit to learn ten vocabulary words every day.

This does not mean that the speaker naturally became able to memorize ten words. It means the speaker is intentionally trying to continue this habit.

Here are more examples.

授業の前に予習するようにしています。
I try to prepare before class.

分からない言葉はすぐに調べるようにしています。
I make it a habit to look up words I do not understand right away.

夜遅くまでスマホを見ないようにしています。
I try not to look at my phone until late at night.

In these sentences, the speaker is controlling their own behavior. That is the heart of 「ようにする」.

「ようになった」 vs. 「ようにした」

In JLPT questions, the past forms can be especially tricky.

「ようになった」 (yō ni natta / came to be, became able to)

「ようにした」 (yō ni shita / decided to, started making an effort to)

Compare these two sentences.

日本語の新聞が読めるようになった。
I became able to read Japanese newspapers.

日本語の新聞を読むようにした。
I decided to start reading Japanese newspapers regularly.

The first sentence describes a change in ability.

The second sentence describes a change in behavior or personal policy.

So the difference is not small.

「読めるようになった」 means the ability changed.

「読むようにした」 means the speaker changed their habit or action.

When you see these forms in a reading passage, ask yourself:

Did something become possible?

Or did someone decide to act in a certain way?

That question will often lead you to the correct answer.

Pay Attention to the Verb Form Before 「よう」

The verb before 「よう」 gives you a strong clue.

Potential Form + 「ようになる」

When 「ようになる」 expresses ability, it often follows the potential form.

読めるようになる
to become able to read

話せるようになる
to become able to speak

聞き取れるようになる
to become able to catch or understand by listening

使えるようになる
to become able to use

Example:

最初は何も分かりませんでしたが、最近は先生の説明が聞き取れるようになりました。
At first, I could not understand anything, but recently I have become able to understand the teacher’s explanations.

The focus is on the change in listening ability.

Dictionary Form + 「ようにする」

When 「ようにする」 expresses a habit or conscious action, it often follows the dictionary form.

毎日読むようにする
to make it a habit to read every day

早く寝るようにする
to try to sleep early

忘れずに確認するようにする
to make sure to check without forgetting

Example:

試験の前は、毎日少しでも日本語を読むようにしています。
Before the exam, I try to read at least a little Japanese every day.

The focus is not on a natural change. The focus is on intentional practice.

Negative Form + 「ようにする」

「ようにする」 is also very common with the negative form.

忘れないようにする
to make sure not to forget

遅れないようにする
to try not to be late

間違えないようにする
to try not to make a mistake

Example:

同じミスをしないように、答えを選ぶ前に文全体を読むようにしています。
To avoid making the same mistake, I make it a habit to read the whole sentence before choosing an answer.

Here, the speaker is consciously controlling their behavior to avoid mistakes.

How to Read These Expressions in JLPT Passages

In reading passages, do not stop at the surface meaning of 「よう」.

Instead, look at the role of the expression in the sentence.

When you see 「ようになる」, ask:

• What changed?
• What became possible?
• What is different from before?
• Is the passage describing gradual development?

For example:

日本に来てから、店員の話す日本語が少し分かるようになった。
After coming to Japan, I became able to understand a little of the Japanese spoken by shop staff.

This sentence is about a change in understanding.

When you see 「ようにする」, ask:

• Who is making an effort?
• What action is being controlled?
• What habit is being built?
• What is the purpose of that action?

For example:

日本に来てから、毎日店員の話す日本語をよく聞くようにした。
After coming to Japan, I decided to listen carefully to the Japanese spoken by shop staff every day.

This sentence is about a conscious change in behavior.

The situation is similar, but the meaning is different.

A Common Mistake Learners Make

Many learners read 「ようになる」 as if it always means effort. But that is not accurate.

最近、ニュースの内容が分かるようになりました。
Recently, I have become able to understand the content of the news.

This does not mean “I am trying to understand the news.” It means the speaker’s understanding has improved.

On the other hand:

ニュースを見るようにしています。
I make it a habit to watch the news.

This does not mean the speaker gained the ability to watch the news. It means the speaker intentionally watches it as a habit.

So when you read these expressions, always separate two ideas:

Did the state change?

Or is someone making an effort to act in a certain way?

That one distinction can prevent many mistakes.

Useful Clues in JLPT Questions

Certain words often appear near 「ようになる」.

最近
recently

だんだん
gradually

少しずつ
little by little

前は
before

できなかった
could not do

These words often point to change.

Example:

前は漢字が苦手でしたが、毎日勉強して、少しずつ読めるようになりました。
I used to be bad at kanji, but after studying every day, I gradually became able to read them.

Other words often appear near 「ようにする」.

毎日
every day

忘れずに
without forgetting

できるだけ
as much as possible

気をつけて
carefully, with attention

These words often point to conscious action.

Example:

試験まで時間がないので、毎日30分は日本語を読むようにしています。
Since there is not much time before the exam, I make it a habit to read Japanese for at least 30 minutes every day.

The sentence is not mainly about a result. It is about a planned habit.

For a broader overview of reason and cause patterns, see the JLPT reason and cause expression guide. Confusing JLPT Reason and Cause Expressions

Summary: Result or Effort?

「ようになる」 and 「ようにする」 look similar, but they are not the same.

「ようになる」 means that a state or ability changes.

「ようにする」 means that someone intentionally tries to do something or build a habit.

For JLPT reading, the most important skill is not just knowing the dictionary meaning of each expression. You also need to understand what role the expression plays in the sentence.

Is the passage describing a change?

Or is it describing someone’s effort, rule, or habit?

Once you can see that difference, you will make fewer mistakes in grammar and reading questions.

RJT (Rapid Japanese Training) helps you build this kind of practical reading judgment through focused JLPT practice. You can answer questions, check explanations, listen to example audio, and review key words in one smooth learning flow.

Move from “I sort of understand” to “I can choose the answer with confidence.”

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