〜ように: 'So That' for Purpose and Hope (Meaning + Examples)
The aim you steer toward, not the one you command
〜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.
The verbs it wants in front
Attach ように to the plain (dictionary) form of the verb — but not just any verb. Because the goal has to be something outside your direct control, the verb before ように is almost always 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. In longer sentences a comma after ように keeps the aim and the action cleanly apart: 忘れないように、メモする.
When the aim is 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.) You practise or study now, aiming at an ability you can't simply switch on by deciding to.
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.
When the aim is to prevent something
Flip the verb negative and 〜ないように means "so that ~ won't happen" — you act now to keep a result from occurring:
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 or 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.
That volitional-verb slip is the mistake to watch: 行くように勉強する sounds off — ように wants 行ける (potential) or 行かない (negative), so a deliberate plan belongs with ために. One more boundary worth marking: plain ～ように + an action verb is this N5 "so that" use, distinct from the N4 patterns 〜ようになる (a change that comes about) and 〜ようにする (making an effort). Keep the goal uncontrollable, and you'll pick the right one.
The short version
- 〜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.
Practice it
Choose the correct use of ように for purpose.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
Choose the grammar pattern that best completes the sentence.
日本語が＿＿＿。
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.
Where 〜ように fits
Don't confuse it with
- 〜つもり · N5 — つもり expresses a personal plan or intention: 行くつもりです ('I plan to go'). Learn the dictionary-form pattern, negatives, つもりだった, and how it differs from よてい and 〜よう.
Once this clicks, go on to
- 〜ようになる · N4 — 〜ようになる describes a change — something that wasn't true or possible before, but now is. Learn the formation, nuance, and see 12 example sentences with a quick practice quiz.
- 〜ようにする · N4 — 〜ようにする means making a conscious effort to do (or not do) something — 'try to / make sure to.' Learn the formation, the negative, the ている habit form, and how it differs from ようになる.
Compared side by side
See how this pattern differs from the ones it's confused with:
More N5 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- まだ — まだ means 'still' with a positive verb and 'not yet' with 〜ていない. Learn both uses, the one-word answer, and how まだ differs from もう.
- もう — もう means 'already' with a positive verb (もう食べた), 'not anymore' with a negative (もう食べない), and 'one more' with numbers (もう一杯). Pairs with まだ.
- 〜ている — 〜ている has two big jobs: an ongoing action ('is doing') and a continuing state ('is in a state'). Learn when it means which, how to form it, and see clear examples.
- 〜あとで — 〜あとで means 'after' doing something: past-form verb + あとで (ご飯を食べたあとで) or noun + のあとで (授業のあとで). Learn the た-form rule and how it differs from 前に.
- 〜前に — 〜前に means 'before': dictionary-form verb + 前に (寝る前に), noun + の前に (食事の前に), and time + 前に (三年前に). Always use the dictionary form — even for past events.
- 〜てから — 〜てから links two actions in order: do X first, then Y. Learn the て-form + から pattern, how it differs from 〜たあとで, and why it is not the から that means 'because'.