Mastering the Art of Conscious Effort with Youni Shite Iru

 〜ようにしている (~youni shite iru)

Have you ever felt like your Japanese study is a constant uphill battle? You sit down with your textbooks, promise yourself you’ll learn ten new Kanji every day, but then life gets in the way. We’ve all been there. Learning a language isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary; it’s about building habits and showing the world—and yourself—that you are trying your best.

In Japanese, there is a beautiful way to express this sense of “making an effort” or “trying to make something a habit.” It goes beyond simply saying you “do” something. It adds a layer of intention. That expression is 〜ようにしている (~youni shite iru). If you are preparing for the JLPT (especially the N4 or N3 levels), this grammar point is absolutely essential. But more than just passing a test, mastering this phrase will make you sound much more natural and humble in everyday conversations.

In this guide, we are going to break down exactly how to use this grammar, why it differs from other similar expressions, and how you can start using it today to talk about your goals and daily routines.

Before diving into the grammar detail, here is the JLPT N4 complete guide: 
The Ultimate JLPT N4 Complete Guide: Your Gateway to Working and Living in Japan

Understanding the Basic Rule of Youni Shite Iru

At its core, 〜ようにしている is used to describe a conscious, ongoing effort to do (or not do) something. It implies that the action isn’t necessarily easy or automatic yet, but you are working hard to make it a regular part of your life.

The grammatical structure is quite simple. You take a verb and pair it with “youni shite iru.” Here is how you form it:

• Dictionary Form (Positive): Verb (Dictionary Form) + ようにしている
• Nai-Form (Negative): Verb (ない-form) + ようにしている

Think of it as the difference between “I exercise” and “I make it a point to exercise.” When you say “I exercise” (運動します – Undou shimasu), it’s a simple statement of fact. But when you say “運動するようにしています” (Undou suru youni shite iru), you are telling the listener, “I am making a conscious effort to ensure that I exercise.”

The use of している (shite iru) is crucial here. It represents the “continuous state” of your effort. If you were to use するようにする (youni suru), it would mean you are deciding at this moment to start making an effort. By using the “te-iru” form, you are showing that this effort is already a part of your current lifestyle.

Real Life Examples to Bring Your Japanese to Life

To really get a feel for how this works, let’s look at three common scenarios where you’ll find yourself using this grammar in Japan. Notice how each sentence reflects a personal goal or a healthy habit.

Example One: Health and Lifestyle

Imagine your Japanese friend asks you how you stay so energetic. You might want to explain that you try to eat healthy every day. It’s not always easy because fast food is tempting, but you make the effort.

Japanese: 健康のために、毎日野菜をたくさん食べるようにしています。
Reading: Kenkou no tame ni, mainichi yasai o takusan taberu youni shite imasu.
English: For the sake of my health, I make it a point to eat a lot of vegetables every day.

In this case, using “taberu youni shite imasu” suggests that you are mindful of your diet. If you just said “tabemasu,” it sounds like a simple fact. By using our target grammar, you highlight your dedication to health.

Example Two: Language Learning and Habits

This is a perfect one for JLPT students. When someone asks how your studies are going, you can use this phrase to show your persistence.

Japanese: 寝る前に、新しい単語を５つ覚えるようにしています。
Reading: Neru mae ni, atarashii tango o itsutsu oboeru youni shite imasu.
English: I try to make sure I memorize five new words before going to bed.

Notice the English translation “try to make sure.” This captures the nuance of the Japanese perfectly. It implies that even if you’re tired, you have the intention to sit down and study those five words.

Example Three: Professionalism and Social Manners

In Japan, punctuality is everything. If you want to impress your boss or coworkers, you might talk about your habits regarding time. This also shows how to use the negative form.

Japanese: 仕事に遅れないように、早めに家を出るようにしています。
Reading: Shigoto ni okurenai youni, hayame ni ie o deru youni shite imasu.
English: I make a conscious effort to leave the house early so that I won’t be late for work.

Here, we see a double use of “youni.” The first “okurenai youni” means “so that I won’t be late” (purpose), while the second “deru youni shite imasu” is our target grammar meaning “I make it a point to leave.” It shows a very high level of responsibility.

Crucial Nuances and Common Mistakes

While the grammar seems straightforward, there are a few traps that learners often fall into. Understanding these will help you move from sounding like a textbook to sounding like a fluent speaker.

The Difference Between Youni Shite Iru and Koto Ni Shite Iru

This is perhaps the most common point of confusion for N3 students. Both phrases can be translated as “I make it a rule to…” or “I’ve decided to…”, but they carry different weights.

~Koto ni shite iru emphasizes a rule or a decision. It feels a bit more rigid. For example, if you have a strict rule that you never eat after 8 PM, you would use “koto ni shite iru.” It sounds like a policy.

~Youni shite iru, on the other hand, emphasizes the effort and the process. It feels softer and more humble. It acknowledges that while you are trying your best, you are focusing on the *attempt*. In Japanese culture, showing that you are “making an effort” (doryoku) is often viewed more favorably than simply stating a cold hard rule about your life.

Don’t Use It for Natural Instincts

You should only use “youni shite iru” for things that require conscious will. You wouldn’t say “I make it a point to breathe” or “I try to blink my eyes.” These are automatic. Similarly, if something is incredibly easy for you and requires zero thought, using this grammar might sound a bit strange. Use it for things where there is a possibility of failure if you don’t stay focused.

The “One-Time” Mistake

Remember that the “te-iru” form implies a habit or a repeating state. If you are talking about something you are going to do just once, like “I will try to be on time tomorrow,” you should use ようにします (youni shimasu) instead of “shite imasu.”

Incorrect: 明日、早く来るようにしています。(Ashita, hayaku kuru youni shite imasu.)
Correct: 明日、早く来るようにします。(Ashita, hayaku kuru youni shimasu.)

By saying “shite imasu” regarding a single event tomorrow, it sounds like you are already in the middle of a habit that hasn’t happened yet, which is logically confusing in Japanese.

Deep Dive: Why Effort Matters in Japanese Communication

To truly master this grammar, we need to look at the cultural context. Why is this phrase so common? In Western cultures, we often focus on the result. “I lost five kilograms” or “I passed the N2.”

In Japan, the process and the sincerity of effort (called “isshoukenmei”) are often just as important as the result. When you use “youni shite iru,” you are signaling to your listener that you are a disciplined, mindful person. It’s a way of saying, “I care about this enough to keep trying.”

For example, if you are at a job interview and the interviewer asks how you handle stress, you could say: “ストレスをためないように、週末はスポーツをするようにしています” (I make it a point to play sports on weekends so that I don’t let stress build up). This doesn’t just say you play sports; it says you are proactive about your mental health and work-life balance. It’s a very sophisticated way to present yourself.

The Softening Effect

Japanese is a language of “softness.” Stating things too directly can sometimes come across as arrogant or aggressive. If you say “毎日１時間勉強します” (I study one hour every day), it sounds like a robotic fact. But if you say “毎日１時間勉強するようにしています,” it sounds like you are human. It implies, “I am doing my best to stick to this goal.” This humility is a key part of sounding natural.

Summary and Your Next Steps

We’ve covered a lot of ground today! Let’s recap the key points so you can keep them fresh in your mind:

• The Meaning: Use it to describe a conscious, ongoing effort to build a habit or maintain a standard.
• The Form: Verb (Dictionary or Nai form) + ようにしている.
• The Nuance: It focuses on the intention and the process rather than just the final result or a cold rule.
• The Social Benefit: It makes you sound humble, disciplined, and more like a native speaker.

Now, it’s your turn. Grammar is only useful if you put it into practice. I want you to think about one thing you are trying to do lately to improve your life or your Japanese skills. Is it sleeping earlier? Is it drinking more water? Is it speaking Japanese with your coworkers?

Try to form a sentence using 〜ようにしている right now. Write it down in your notebook or say it out loud. By turning your goals into Japanese sentences, you aren’t just practicing grammar; you are reinforcing your commitment to those goals.

The journey to fluency is long, but by making an effort every day—or should I say, 毎日勉強するようにすれば (mainichi benkyou suru youni sureba)—you will definitely reach your destination. Keep up the hard work, and good luck with your JLPT studies!

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