The most basic way to express change in Japanese is to use the verb なる transcribed narumeaning to become. But did you know that the verb する transcribed surumeaning to do can also be used to discuss changes? More than that, both of these verbs also have can be used alongside よう transcribed yō and こと transcribed koto to form longer expressions that we use to discuss changes in behavior or habits.
| Japanese expressions for discussing change | |
|---|---|
なる Transcription: naru | ようになる Transcription: yō ni naru |
ことになる Transcription: koto ni naru | |
する Transcription: suru | ようにする Transcription: yō ni suru |
ことにする Transcription: koto ni suru | |
So what’s the difference between these different expressions? Luckily there are some simple rules you can follow!
In this post we’ll first look at the difference between なる transcribed naru and する transcribed suru, and how they’re used to discuss becoming. Then we’ll look at these longer expressions and how to use each of these basic verbs with よう transcribed yō vs. こと transcribed koto. Let's get to it!
Verbs of change: なる [naru] vs. する [suru]
In Japanese, you can express that something has changed using either なる transcribed naru, a u-verb, or する transcribed suru, an irregular verb. There is one major difference between the two:
なる transcribed naru indicates a change beyond anyone’s control, it’s an accidental or natural change.
今日は暑いですけど、明日は涼しくなるでしょう 。Transcription: Kyō wa atsui desu kedo, ashita wa suzusiku narudeshō.Translation: It’s hot today, but it will probably become cool tomorrow.a natural changeする transcribed suru indicates a change that was intentional, someone caused or underwent a change on purpose.
今日は暑いから、クーラーをつけて、部屋を涼しくし ましょう。Transcription: Kyō wa atsui kara, kūrā o tsukete, heya o suzusiku shimashō.Translation: It’s hot today, so let’s turn on the AC and make the room (become) cool.an intentional change
How to describe the end result of a change with なる and する?
When you want to say that something has changed in Japanese, you’ll often use なる transcribed naru and する transcribed suru alongside a word or phrase that describes either the end result of the change. That might be an adjective (e.g. “became tall”) or a noun (e.g. “became a teacher”).
The end result is an i-adjective
When you use なる transcribed naru or する transcribed suru before an i-adjective, the final い transcribed i of the adjective will change into く transcribed ku.
i-adjective
なる / する
For example:
The end result is a noun or a na-adjective
When the end result of a change is a na-adjective or a noun, add に transcribed ni between the dictionary form and なる or する.
na-adjective
なる / する
noun
なる / する
Here are some examples of how to use these in sentences:
- na-adjectiveに [ni]する [suru]スマートフォンは、私たちの生活を 便利にしました。Transcription: Sumātofon wa, watashitachi no seikatsu o benri ni shimashita.Translation: Smartphones made our lives more convenient.
- nounに [ni]なる [naru]将来、 プログラマーになりたいです。Transcription: Shōrai, purogramā ni naritai desu.Translation: I want to become a programmer in the future.
The end result is a negative noun or adjective
The end result of a change, in Japanese, can also be a negative adjective or a negative noun. You might use this to say that something became “impossible” (not possible) or someone became a “non-emergency” (not an emergency).
You may recall that the form of an adjective or noun will end with ない transcribed nai. When this ending comes before なる or する, ない transcribed nai will become なく transcribed naku. Have a look!
| i-adjective | na-adjective | Noun | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dictionary form | むずかしい Transcription: muzukashii Translation: difficult | べんり Transcription: benri Translation: convenient | ファン Transcription: fan Translation: fan (as in fanatic) |
| Negative Form | むずかしくない Transcription: muzukashiku nai Translation: not difficult | べんりじゃない Transcription: benri ja nai Translation: not convenient | ファンじゃない Transcription: fan ja nai Translation: not a fan |
| With なる | むずかしくなくなる Transcription: muzukashiku nakunaru Translation: become not difficult | べんりじゃなくなる Transcription: benri ja nakunaru Translation: become not convenient | ファンじゃなくなる Transcription: fan ja nakunaru Translation: become a non-fan |
| With する | むずかしくなく する Transcription: muzukashiku nakusuru Translation: make not difficult | べんりじゃなくする Transcription: benri ja nakusuru Translation: make not convenient | ファンじゃなくする Transcription: fan ja nakusuru Translation: make into a non-fan |
Have a look at how you might use these expressions in a sentence:
- i-adjective basenegativeなる [naru]このドラマは、シーズン１は面白かったけど、その後は面白くなくなりました。Transcription: Kono dorama wa, sīzun ichi wa omoshirokatta kedo, sono ato wa omoshiroku nakunarimashita.Translation: Season 1 of this drama was interesting, but after that it became not interesting.
- na-adjective basenegativeなる [naru]あの町は、若い人が少なくなってから、にぎやかじゃなくなりました。Transcription: Ano machi wa, wakai hito ga sukunaku natte kara, nigiyaka ja nakunarimashita.Translation: That town has become less lively since the number of young people decreased.
- nounnegativeなる [naru]前はこの歌手の大ファンでしたけど、今はファンじゃなくなりました。Transcription: Mae wa kono kashu no dai fan deshita kedo, ima wa fan ja nakunarimashita.Translation: I used to be a big fan of this singer, but I became a non-fan.
よう [yō] vs. こと [koto]: Changes in behavior
In Japanese, we also often use なる transcribed naru and する transcribed suru alongside the words よう transcribed yō and こと transcribed koto to describe changes in behavior. We do this using by following the pattern below:
Verb (plain)
new behavior
When should you use よう transcribed yō and when should you use こと transcribed koto?
よう transcribed yō focuses on the process, indicating a gradual change in behavior.
こと transcribed koto indicates that someone decided the change should happen.
There are four possible combinations of よう transcribed yō, こと transcribed koto, なる transcribed naru, and する transcribed suru. Here’s a quick summary of when you should use each of these expressions to describe a change in behavior:
| なる transcribed naru accidental change | する transcribed suru intentional change | |
|---|---|---|
| よう transcribed yō gradual change | ようになる Transcription: yō ni naru Translation: a gradual, natural, unintentional change in behavior a “drifting” change | ようにする Transcription: yō ni suru Translation: an intentional, gradual change in behavior a project or effortful change |
| こと transcribed koto decisive change | ことになる Transcription: koto ni naru Translation: a forced, required, or mandated change in behavior a response to instructions | ことにする Transcription: koto ni suru Translation: a decision to change one’s own behavior a resolution |
Now let’s look at some examples of each expression and discuss why you’d use each expression for each purpose.
ようになる [yō ni naru]: Natural, unintentional change
We use ようになる transcribed yō ni naru after the plain form of a verb to indicate a change in behavior that is outside anyone’s control. You might use this to describe a gradual change in habit, or a natural change in behavior or abilities as someone matures.
verb (plain)ようになる [yō ni naru]私の娘は、２歳になってから、 話すようになりました。Transcription: Watashi no musume wa, ni sai ni natte kara, hanasu yō ni narimashita.Translation: My daughter started talking after she turned two.If you recall the functions of よう transcribed yō and なる transcribed naru, this should make sense to you: よう is used for a gradual change and なる is used when the subject does not have control over the change.
ようにする [yō ni suru]: Intentional, effortful change
You can use the plain form of a verb before ようにする transcribed yō ni suru, to describe an intentional, often effortful, change in the subject’s own habits or behavior.
verb (plain)ようにする [yō ni suru]健康のために、毎日 走るようにしました。Transcription: Kenkō no tame ni, mainichi hashiru yō ni shimashita.Translation: For my health, I made an effort to run every day.I worked to change my own behavior.This is because よう transcribed yō is used for a gradual change and する transcribed suru indicates that the subject has control over it.
ことになる [koto ni naru]: Changing someone else’s behavior
We use the plain form of a verb before ことになる transcribed koto ni naru when someone makes the decision that someone else’s behavior will change. For example:
verb (plain)ことになる [koto ni naru]部長に言われて、週末も会社に 行くことになりました。Transcription: Buchō ni iwarete, shūmatsu mo kaisya ni iku koto ni narimashita.Translation: My boss told me, I will start going to the office on the weekend too.Someone else (my boss) made a decision that my behavior will change.This results from こと used for a decision and なる indicating that the subject isn’t in control of it.
ことにする [koto ni suru]: Deciding to make change
Lastly, when ことにする transcribed koto ni suru follows a plain verb, that indicates the subject’s decision to change their own behavior. This is because こと transcribed koto is used when a decision is made and する transcribed suru is used when the change is under the subject’s control.
verbことにする [koto ni suru]夏休み、旅行に行くことにしました。Transcription: Natsuyasumi, ryokō ni iku koto ni shimashita.Translation: I have decided to go on a trip during summer break.
Negation when なる and する describe a change in behavior
There are three ways to negate sentences that use なる transcribed naru or する transcribed suru to describe change in behavior. The pattern you follow, though, will depend on exactly what you want to express. Let’s check them out!
Stopping an action
To say that someone stops doing something, put the plain verb for the stopped action into its plain negative form, then use なる transcribed naru or する transcribed suru directly after it. You don’t need よ transcribed yō or こと transcribed koto here!
Verb (plain, negative)
stopped actionなる／するTranscription: naru / suru昔はロックをよく聞きましたけど、今は聞かなくなりました。Transcription: Mukashi wa rokku o yoku kikimashita kedo, ima wa .Translation: I used to listen to rock music, but don’t listen to it anymore.Notice that the usual negative ending ない transcribed nai becomes なく transcribed naku before the verb of change, just like we saw above!Decision to stop an action
If you include こと transcribed koto after a negated plain verb, you will either be talking about a decision to stop doing something.
Verb (plain, negative)
stopped actionことにTranscription: koto niなる／するTranscription: naru / suru仕事が忙しいから、パーティに 行かないことに しました 。Transcription: Shigoto ga isogashii kara, pātī ni .Translation: Since I’m busy at work. I have decided not to go to the party.Notice we don’t need to change the ない transcribed nai ending here!No change in behavior
When you want to express that no change in behavior took place, then なる transcribed naru or する transcribed suru will be negated instead. You might use this to say something failed to change or stayed the same.
verb (plain)なる [naru]１年間英語を勉強したけど、上手に話せるようになりませんでした。Transcription: Ichinenkan ēgo o benkyō shita kedo, jōzu ni hanaseru yō ni narimasendeshita.Translation: I studied English for one year, but I could not become a fluent speaker.
To sum up
In this post, we’ve covered the differences between how なる transcribed naru and する transcribed suru are used to describe changes in state or behavior. Here are some charts to summarize!
なる and する with nouns and adjectives:
Does the subject have control over the change? Use なる!
Use する!
Are you using an i-adjective? Are you using an i-adjective? YES NO YES NO Drop い + く + なる
Add い + なる
Drop い + く + なる
Add い + なる
なる and する with verbs to describe changes in behavior:
Are you describing a change or a decision to change? Use よう!
Use こと!
Does the subject have control? Does the subject have control? YES NO YES NO Intentional change
よう + こ + するNatural change
よう + こ + なるDecision to change
こと + に + するA mandated change
こと + に + なる
Ready to practice? Check out this sheet of exercises to help you practice using なる and する to describe changes of state! Happy learning!
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