〜ように: 'So That' for Purpose and Hope (Meaning + Examples)
What it means
〜ように connects a goal to an action: "I do [action] so that [goal happens]." The key is that the goal is something you can't directly force — an ability, a natural result, or avoiding something. That's why it pairs with potential verbs (聞こえる, 見える, できる), negative verbs (忘れない, 遅れない), and verbs of change. You set up the situation, then hope the result follows.
よく聞こえるように、大きい声で話します。
よく きこえるように、おおきい こえで はなします。
I speak in a loud voice so that I can be heard well.
聞こえる (can be heard) is non-volitional — perfect for ように.
ヤッタンは忘れないようにメモします。
ヤッタンは わすれないように メモします。
Yattan takes notes so that he won't forget.
風邪をひかないように、温かくしてください。
かぜを ひかないように、あたたかく して ください。
Please keep warm so that you don't catch a cold.
How to form it
Attach ように to the plain (dictionary) form of the verb. With N5 ように, that verb is usually potential, non-volitional, or negative:
| Verb type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Potential | 〜できる + ように | 話せるように (so that I can speak) |
| Non-volitional | 〜える/〜 える + ように | 見えるように (so that it can be seen) |
| Negative | 〜ない + ように | 遅れないように (so that I'm not late) |
| Negative (state) | わからない + ように | わからないように (so that no one finds out) |
The second clause is a normal verb of action: メモする, 話す, ~してください, 練習する.
Aiming for an ability
A very common use is "so that I can do something" — pair ように with a potential verb. (Potential forms come from 〜ことができる's cousin, the can-do verb.)
モチは漢字が読めるように、毎日練習しています。
モチは かんじが よめるように、まいにち れんしゅう して います。
Mochi practices every day so that he can read kanji.
読める = can read; the practice is aimed at gaining that ability.
先生の話がわかるように、日本語を勉強します。
せんせいの はなしが わかるように、にほんごを べんきょうします。
I study Japanese so that I can understand the teacher's talks.
Avoiding something (negative)
The negative 〜ないように means "so that ~ won't happen" — you act to prevent a result:
ヤッタンの弟は転ばないように、ゆっくり歩きました。
ヤッタンの おとうとは ころばないように、ゆっくり あるきました。
Yattan's little brother walked slowly so that he wouldn't fall.
電車に遅れないように、早く家を出ました。
でんしゃに おくれないように、はやく いえを でました。
I left home early so that I wouldn't be late for the train.
ように vs ために
Both can translate as "so that" or "in order to," but they take different verbs. Use ように when the goal is something you can't directly control — a potential verb, a non-volitional verb, or a negative. Use ために when the goal is a deliberate action you control, with the same subject doing both parts. Compare: 日本語が話せるように勉強する ("study so that I can speak Japanese" — 話せる is an ability) versus 日本へ行くためにお金をためる ("save money in order to go to Japan" — 行く is a planned action you control). A quick test: if the first verb is potential, negative, or a change you hope for, reach for ように.
Common mistakes
- Using a plain volitional verb with ように. 行くように勉強する sounds off; for a deliberate plan use ために. ように wants 行ける (potential) or 行かない (negative).
- Dropping the comma in long sentences. A comma after ように makes the two clauses clear: 忘れないように、メモする.
- Confusing it with 〜ようにする / 〜ようになる. Those are separate N4 patterns. Plain ～ように + an action verb is the N5 "so that" use; see 〜ようになる and 〜ようにする for the others.
- Forgetting the goal must be uncontrollable. "So that I can be heard" (聞こえる) fits ように; a thing you simply decide to do does not.
Quick recap
- 〜ように = "so that ~" — do an action aiming at a result you can't fully control.
- Attaches to potential, non-volitional, or negative verbs: 読めるように, 忘れないように.
- First clause = the aim; second clause = the action you take.
- For a deliberate, controllable goal with the same subject, use 〜ために instead.
Your turn
Choose the correct use of ように for purpose.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between ように and ために?
ように pairs with goals you can't directly control — potential verbs (話せる), non-volitional verbs (聞こえる), or negatives (忘れない). ために pairs with a deliberate action you control, with the same subject: 日本へ行くためにお金をためる.
Which verb form goes before ように?
The plain (dictionary) form. In practice that's usually a potential verb (読める), a non-volitional verb (見える), or a negative verb (遅れない).
Why is 忘れないようにメモする negative?
Because the goal is to avoid forgetting. 〜ないように means 'so that ~ won't happen,' so you state the result you want to prevent, then the action you take.
Is this the same as 〜ようになる or 〜ようにする?
No. Those are related N4 patterns about change and effort. Plain ～ように followed by an action verb is the N5 'so that / in order to' use.