Kotomora
JLPT N5Construction
Furigana

にするChoose an option

Use にする after a noun to choose that item from available alternatives. The alternatives may be stated directly or simply clear from the situation.

The selected option comes before the particle

Put the noun naming your choice before . The verb する then changes for politeness and time. The construction can select a product, food, drink, destination, quantity, or another clearly available alternative.

Stated alternatives

このシャツはしろあおしょくです。わたしあおにします

This shirt comes in white and blue. I'll take blue.

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The two colors form an explicit choice set, and あお is the selected option.

Ordering politely

Staff

ものなににしますか

What would you like to drink?

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Customer

コーヒーにします

I'll have coffee.

Analyze

The available drinks are understood from the service situation, so they do not need to be listed.

Reporting present and past choices

Change する normally: use a nonpast form for the choice you are making now and a past form for a choice already made.

ようにちようなら、にちようにします

If the choices are Saturday and Sunday, I'll choose Sunday.

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きはでんしゃとバスでまよいましたが、バスにしました

For the outbound trip, I was torn between the train and the bus, but chose the bus.

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Choosing something versus changing something

In the first sentence, a room is selected from possible venues. In the second, an existing room is changed into a break room; that is the separate state-change use of にする.

わたしたちはかいじょうだいいちかいしつにしました

We chose Conference Room 1 as the venue.

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たんとうしゃかいしつきゅうけいしつにしました

The staff member turned the meeting room into a break room.

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This sentence describes a change of use, not a selection from alternatives.

More examples

あさはんはごはんとパンのどちらにしますか

Which will you have for breakfast, rice or bread?

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わたしパンにします

I'll have bread.

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せきまどがわにしました

I chose a window seat.

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つぎりょこうさきほっかいどうにします

I'll choose Hokkaido as my next travel destination.

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ケーキはふたつにします

I'll take two cakes.

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デザートはアイスクリームにしました

I chose ice cream for dessert.

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