How to tell them apart
ようになる describes a change that happens on its own or as a result you did not directly control, while ようにする means someone intentionally makes an effort to bring about a state or habit. 話せるようになる means you became able to speak through practice, whereas 話すようにする means you make yourself speak on purpose. Swapping them sounds odd because one reports an outcome and the other reports a deliberate effort.
- ようになる Use ようになる when a new state or ability has been reached through gradual change.
- ようにする Use ようにする when you intentionally make an effort or habit to do something.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| ようになる youninaru | Gradually reach the stage where something becomes possible | N4 |
| ようにする younisuru | Make an effort to do; aim to do | N4 |
ようになる youninaru
Gradually reach the stage where something becomes possible
ようになる after a verb in the potential form expresses gradually becoming able to do something through practice, growth, or changed circumstances. It follows forms like 読めるようになる or できるようになる, and なる itself conjugates for tense and desire, as in なった, なってきた, or なりたい. Do not use the dictionary form here when you mean acquired ability, and do not confuse this pattern with permission.
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日本語を読めるようになりたいです。
I want to be able to read Japanese.
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うちの子、しゃべれるようになってきたの。
Our baby is learning to speak.
ようにする younisuru
Make an effort to do; aim to do
ようにする expresses making a conscious effort to do something or to build it into a habit, often used for resolutions, habits, or instructions to others. It follows the plain non-past form of a verb, affirmative or negative, as in 毎日走るようにする or 遅れないようにする, and する itself conjugates for tense and politeness, as in ようにしてください or ようにしなさい. The doer remains the same throughout, so use it only with controllable actions and not with passives or events beyond the person's control.
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あくびをしないようにしなさい。
Try not to yawn.
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悪友とつき合わないようにしなさい。
Try to avoid bad company.
ようになる and ようにする are both JLPT N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.