- JLPT N3
ようにして
NikoJLPT N3: ようにして (sort of ~ while [when])
I'm having a very hard time putting ようにして into English.
First, I'll just clarify that it's not the ように meaning "so that," which we saw in this lesson: JLPT N3: ように (so that).
An example of that:
血圧が下がるように塩分を控えています。
けつあつ が さがる ように えんぶん を ひかえています。
I'm cutting back on salt so that my blood pressure goes down.
↑ That ように is used to describe a desired outcome of some kind.
↓ ようにして, on the other hand, is used when describing the way in which a thing is done (though there may be a desired outcome in mind):
ニンニクの皮はこするようにしてむくと簡単にむけます。
ニンニク の かわ は こする ようにして むく と かんたん に むけます。
If you sort of rub garlic when peeling it, the skin comes off easily.
Let's zoom in on the middle of that sentence:
こするようにしてむく
こする ようにして むく
sort of rub while peeling
むく, "peeling," is the action that will certainly occur, the "goal," if you will. こする "rubbing," is the action that is "sort of" done while peeling.
That's a pretty vague meaning, yeah? And I didn't even think it was necessary to include "sort of" in the full-sentence translation. Kind of confusing, if you ask me.
Here's another example:
このドアは、ちょっと持ち上げるようにして押すと、スムーズに開きます。
この ドア は、 ちょっと もちあげる ようにして おす と、 スムーズ に あきます。
If you pull up on this door a bit when you push it, it opens smoothly.
Zooming in:
持ち上げるようにして押す
もちあげる ようにして おす
sort of lift up when pushing
So you're not necessarily lifting the door up. But you kind of are. You're just pulling up on it a bit.
The best explanation I can come up with for "V1 ようにして V2" is that "you V1 a bit while/when you V2."
The structure is:
V る ＋ ようにして ＋ VERB
You'll find that it's often used when giving advice on how to do something. For example, if Rei had just made a big bowl of raw soap (which can be quite dangerous), and you were helping her carry it to the next room, she could tell you:
落としたら危ないので、両手で抱くようにして持ってください。
おとしたら あぶない ので、 りょうて で だく ようにして もって ください。
It would be dangerous if you dropped it, so please hold it with both arms.
The nuance is that the listener should wrap their arms around the thing.
It's not always used when giving advice, though.
We could also say:
あの子猫は、右の後ろ足をかばうようにして歩いている。怪我しているのかもしれない。
あの こねこ は、 みぎ の うしろあし を かばう ようにして あるいている。 けが している の かもしれない。
That kitten looks like it's trying to walk without using its back right leg. It might be hurt.
This is one of those grammar points that I somewhat grasp ― can use, even ― but have trouble putting into English.
Hopefully my sparse explanations, along with these native-crafted example sentences, are enough to help you get a feel for ようにして.
I think the best thing you can do to understand this grammar point is to get a feel for how よう is used in general. We've had a few lessons on different ways it's used already:
- JLPT N3: ように (so that)
- JLPT N4: ような
- JLPT N4: ようになる
Niko
