～ように
so that / in order to
～ように attaches to a plain non-past verb and expresses a purpose: you do the main action so that the state in front of ように comes about. The verb before ように is typically a potential verb (聞こえる, 読める), a non-volitional verb, or a negative (忘れない).
This is the key contrast with ～ために: use ～ために when the goal is a specific, intentional action (日本へ行くために働く), and ～ように when the goal is a state, ability, result, or outcome rather than an action you can perform directly.
1. So that something becomes possible
With potential or non-volitional verbs, ～ように means you adjust your action so that the desired state happens.
みんなに聞こえるように話す。
“I speak so that everyone can hear.”
- みんな = everyone
- に = marks the audience (to everyone)
- 聞こえる（きこえる）= can be heard
- ように = so that
- 話す（はなす）= speak
2. So that something does not happen
With a ない-form verb, it means “so as not to”. You act to prevent the unwanted outcome.
忘れないように、メモを書きます。
“I write a memo so that I don't forget.”
- 忘れない（わすれない）= not forget
- ように = so that
- メモ = memo, note
- を = object marker
- 書きます（かきます）= write
How to form it
Verb plain non-past (potential / non-volitional / ない-form) + ように
- 聞こえる（きこえる）= can be heard → 聞こえるように（きこえるように）= so that it can be heard
- 読める（よめる）= can read → 読めるように（よめるように）= so that one can read
- 忘れる（わすれる）= to forget → 忘れないように（わすれないように）= so as not to forget
Key idea
～ように points at a desired state: you arrange your action so that the state comes about (or is avoided). If the goal is your own controllable and intentional action, ～ために is the natural choice instead.
Built on the same stem
Updated .