Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 8: 8/13

にする

To decide on, To choose, To make something into, To view something as

Sometimes written as とする, which focuses on the result, rather than the process of 'making'

Structure Legend

Structure

Noun + + する

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Word Type

    Verb

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    表現

  • 単語の種類

    動詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About にする

にする is a structure that combines the particle (a location/target), with the verb する. It means to 'make/decide' something in a certain way. The nuance with にする is that the speaker has direct control over the outcome. This is where the strong feeling of 'choice' comes from. The noun that comes before にする is the thing that is being decided.
  • (おれ)ビールにする
    I'm going to decide on this beer.
In this example, although the common translation is 'to decide', it is actually much closer to the slang expression 'to do (A)' in English. This means that the literal translation is actually 'I'll do a beer', or 'I'll make it a beer'.
Sometimes the particle is used instead of に. Although this has the same meaning, it changes the nuance slightly. When is used, it takes away the feeling of being a direct decision. とする tends to be used in more formal situations, but this is only because is less 'definite', so results in the phrase sounding less pushy.
  • 今日(きょう)ここまでとする
    Today, I will decide to make this the end. (Why don't we call it a day, if that's ok)
  • 今日(きょう)ここまでにする
    Today, I will decide to end it here. (I'm going to call it a day)
If you were going to compare these two to an English equivalent, it would be similar to the difference between the following sentences.
- I'll buy a burger. (A burger is the direct target of 'buy')
- I'll go with a burger. (You aren't 'going' anywhere, it just sounds softer)
This grammar point may be used for more abstract nouns, and does not specifically need to be 'items'.
  • ハイキング()日曜日(にちようび)にする?
    Is Sunday ok for hiking? (Literally, 'as for heading hiking, will you make it Sunday?')

Examples

  • (なに)にする

    What will you decide on?

  • 今日(きょう)(ばん)ごはん(なに)にする

    What have you decided on for today's dinner?

  • このかばんにします

    To decide on this bag.

  • 明日(あした)(あさ)ごはん(さかな)にします

    To decide on fish for breakfast tomorrow.

  • このレストランにします

    To decide on this restaurant.

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    • みんなの日本語 II

      Page 120 [CH 44]

    • [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

      Page 310

    • Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide

      Page 129

    • [AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese

      Page 72

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にする – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • Ambo100

    Ambo100

    About 2 years ago

    DBJG has a useful distinction on the difference between にする and に決める which might be worth mentioning.

    image706×153 16.5 KB
  • mielke

    mielke

    About 1 year ago

    hello @Jake!

    I got a review on this together with “shall” (ましょうか), but this item comes after にする, so I was a bit lost on that.
    is this an error? shouldn’t this only show up after I review ましょうか?

    thanks!

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 1 year ago

    Hey @mielke
    We will likely replace the sentence, by the way, if you tap on the ましょうか it will show the definition

    Cheers!

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