Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 4: 6/18

にする・くする
Adjective + する, To make something/someone (more)

Structure
Casual
Polite
[な]Adjective + + する
[い]Adjective[く]+ する
[な]Adjective + + します
[い]Adjective[く]+ します
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
When combined with a な-Adjective, にする (or くする in the case of い-Adjectives) carries the meaning of ‘to make more (A)’.
Just like the にする grammar point that is used for highlighting decisions, this にする construction implies that the speaker has a high level of control over the action.
  • この建物(たてもの)もっと丈夫(じょうぶ)にする方法(ほうほう)があります
    Is there any way to make this building more durable?
  • 汚(きたな)部屋(へや)綺麗(きれい)にする大変(たいへん)
    It is difficult to make a dirty room clean.
  • 風呂(ふろ)熱(あつ)くするいい
    I'm going to make the bath hot. Is that okay?
  • このコーヒー甘(あま)くするために、砂糖(さとう)ください。
    Please give me sugar to make this coffee more sweet.
Basically, this changes the adjective into an adverb, and then uses する to show that the adjective itself is the thing that is being done.
Fun Fact
にする is one of four regularly repeating grammar patterns in Japanese that highlight the level of control that the speaker has over the action/result of an action. From highest to lowest level of control, these are as follows:
にする - High level of control, the speaker/subject can perform this action themselves.
になる - High level of control, the speaker/subject can perform this action themselves, but there is no external target.
とする - Medium level of control, the speaker/subject can perform this action, but some outside factors may need to be considered (difficulty, other people, time, etc.).
となる - Low level of control, the speaker/subject has almost no control over these actions, and something that came about purely due to external factors is being discussed.
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
頑張(がんば)って部品(ぶひん)小(ちい)さくしてください
Please try your best to make the parts smaller.
Play  
布団(ふとん)新(あたら)しくしたから気持(きも)ち
I got a new futon, so it is comfortable. [lit. 'I did it new']
Play  
歯医者(はいしゃ)さん歯(は)白(しろ)くしてもらった
I had the dentist make my teeth whiter.
Play  
Online
Books
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 216