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How to Say ‘To become’ in Japanese

になる

ni naru

[nee nah-roo]

💬 Usage Tip: [になる] means "to become" or "to come to be." It follows nouns and adjective forms, as in [元気になる] or [春になる].

🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese often describes change as a state someone "becomes," which can sound softer and less forceful than in English.

Phrase Breakdown

ni

[nee]

to / into

Particle に marks the result or state that something becomes.

Example

先生になる。

To become a teacher.

なる

naru

[nah-roo]

to become

A common verb meaning to become or come to be in a certain state.

Example

元気になる。

To get well / become healthy.

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