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Look at the three days in the picture: each day, they make a point of eating more vegetables for their health.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N4 · Intermediate 1

〜ようにしています~you ni shite imasu

make a conscious effort; habit

Use 〜ようにしています for an ongoing conscious effort to build or maintain a habit.

How it works

  1. Look at the three days in the picture: each day, they make a point of eating more vegetables for their health.

    Look at the three days in the picture: each day, they make a point of eating more vegetables for their health.

  2. Use this pattern when you want to build and maintain a habit, to say you keep making a conscious effort to do it.

    Use this pattern when you want to build and maintain a habit, to say you keep making a conscious effort to do it.

  3. Start with a verb in dictionary form, such as 「食べる」「寝る」「する」, then add the ending shown in the picture.

    Start with a verb in dictionary form, such as 「食べる」「寝る」「する」, then add the ending shown in the picture.

  4. The focus is on keeping it in mind and trying your best; it does not guarantee you reach the goal every time.

    The focus is on keeping it in mind and trying your best; it does not guarantee you reach the goal every time.

  5. In the sleep example, 「七時間は」 means at least seven hours: that is the goal the speaker tries to maintain.

    In the sleep example, 「七時間は」 means at least seven hours: that is the goal the speaker tries to maintain.

Example sentences

  • 毎日まいにちmainichi七しちshichi時間じかんjikanはわwa寝るねるneruようにしyounishiてteいます。imasu。

    I make it a point to sleep for seven hours every day.

  • できるdekiruだけdake野菜やさいyasaiをo多くおおくooku食べるたべるtaberuようにしyounishiてteいます。imasu。

    I try to eat as many vegetables as possible.

In a conversation

  • A
    いつも健康けんこうのためにどんなことをしていますか。

    A: What kind of things do you usually do for your health?

  • B
    私わたしは、わ、毎日まいにちこまめに水分こまめにすいぶん補給ほきゅうをするようにしています。

    B: I make sure to replenish my fluids frequently every day.

  • A
    それはわいいですね、私わたしも水分すいぶんを摂るとることを心がけます。こころがけます。

    A: That's good, I will also keep in mind to stay hydrated.

Check yourself

  1. Level 1 · Recognise

    Which sentence is correct?

  2. Level 1 · Recognise

    Listen and choose the meaning

  3. Level 2 · Build

    Put the words in order

    For my health, I try to get some moderate exercise every day.

  4. Level 3 · Use

    What goes in the blank?

    毎日七時間は____。

    I try to sleep seven hours every day.

More grammar in this theme

  • 〜もsurprisingly many or long
  • 〜しか〜ないonly; less than enough
  • 〜たらどうですかgentle suggestion or advice
  • 〜ないで〜without doing something
  • 〜らしいですreported news; apparently
  • 〜て〜accompanying state or sequence
  • 〜ないで〜without doing something
  • 〜のに／〜にpurpose or goal
  • 〜やすいですeasy to do
  • 〜にくいですdifficult to do
  • 〜ようにしていますmake a conscious effort; habit
  • 〜ないようにしていますmindful effort to avoid
  • 〜ことにしますdecide to do
  • 〜ないことにしますdecide not to do
Previous〜にくいですNext〜ないようにしています

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Intermediate 1
Health and Daily Habits