Structure
Noun + に + する
Details
Part of Speech
Expression
Word Type
Verb
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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 に 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.
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 と is used instead of に. Although this has the same meaning, it changes the nuance slightly. When と 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 と is less 'definite', so results in the phrase sounding less pushy.
If you were going to compare these two to an English equivalent, it would be similar to the difference between the following sentences.
に - I'll buy a burger. (A burger is the direct target of 'buy')
と - 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'.
Synonyms
Examples
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何にする?
What will you decide on?
今日の晩ごはんは何にする?
What have you decided on for today's dinner?
このかばんにします。
To decide on this bag.
明日の朝ごはんは魚にします。
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
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 KBmielke
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
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 definitionCheers!
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