Practice JLPTHow 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 | Come to / reach the point where | N4 |
| ようにする younisuru | Make sure to; try to | N4 |
ようになる youninaru
Come to / reach the point where
Reach the point where ~; come to ~; it has come to be that ~; have finally become | Some change takes place gradually.
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この道は今通れないようになっている。
This street has reached a point where people cannot pass. / At present we cannot use this street.
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もうすぐ面白さが分かるようになりますよ。
You'll soon come to understand the fun of it, I tell you.
ようにする younisuru
Make sure to; try to
Do ~ in such a way that ~; see to it that ~; make sure that ~; bring it about that ~ | Someone causes some circumstantial or behavioural change to take place.
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出来るだけ日本語で話すようにしています。
I'm making sure I speak Japanese as much as possible.
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分からないことは先生に聞くようにしている。
I make a point of asking my teacher about the things I don't understand.
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 — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.