The Subtle Art of Japanese State Changes: Understanding となる/とする vs になる/にする

Japanese learners often struggle with the difference between となる/とする and になる/にする. While both sets of expressions deal with change or transformation, they operate on fundamentally different conceptual levels. Today, we’ll explore these differences and uncover the subtle but crucial distinctions in their usage.

The Fundamental Distinction

At its core, と carries a unique conceptual function rooted in its phonological makeup – the T sound representing thoughtful or conceptual function (思念性) and the O sound representing objective existence (対象感). This gives と constructions a special role in creating or establishing new conceptual categories or states, rather than simply marking transitions between existing ones.

Let’s explore this through concrete examples:

State Changes with なる

Consider these two sentences:

彼は社長となった
He became president (establishing a new role/identity)

水が氷になった
The water became ice (physical transformation)

In the first example with となる, we’re not just seeing a simple transformation – we’re witnessing the establishment of a new conceptual role. The person isn’t just changing status; they’re taking on a whole new identity or role that didn’t exist for them before. The と marks this creation of a new conceptual category in their existence.

Contrast this with the second example using になる, where we’re seeing a transformation between two pre-existing physical states. Water and ice are established states of matter, and the change is a physical transformation rather than a conceptual establishment.

Active Designation with する

This distinction becomes even clearer with する constructions:

これを基準とする
Establish this as a standard (creating a new reference point)

これを基準にする
Make this into a standard (converting to match an existing concept)

In the とする version, we’re actively creating or designating something as a standard – we’re establishing a new conceptual framework. The にする version, however, implies modifying something to match an already existing concept of what a standard is.

Complex Examples in Context

Let’s look at some more nuanced examples:

Professional Roles

彼女を部長となすべき件
The matter of establishing her as department head (creating a new role)

彼女を部長にした
Made her department head (promoted her to an existing position)

Here we see how となす (formal version of とする) implies the creation or establishment of a new role or position, while にする simply indicates filling an existing position.

Abstract Concepts

幸せとなる道
The path to becoming happiness itself (philosophical transformation)

幸せになる道
The path to becoming happy (achieving a known state)

The となる version suggests a deeper, more conceptual transformation – becoming the embodiment of happiness itself. The になる version refers to achieving the commonly understood state of being happy.

Goals and Objectives

これを目標とする
Establish this as our goal (creating a new target)

これを目標にする
Make this our goal (adopting an existing concept as a goal)

When we use とする, we’re actively creating or establishing something as a goal from scratch. With にする, we’re converting something to fit an existing concept of what a goal is.

Special Cases and Idiomatic Usage

Some expressions strongly prefer one form over the other due to these conceptual differences:

問題となる事項
Items that emerge as issues (new problems manifesting)

問題になる事項
Items that become problematic (developing into known issues)

The となる version often appears in formal documents when discussing potential new issues that might emerge, while になる is more common when discussing transformation into recognized problems.

Practical Applications

Understanding this distinction helps in choosing the appropriate form in various contexts:

Academic Writing:

研究対象となる現象
Phenomena that establish themselves as research subjects (new areas of study)

研究対象になる現象
Phenomena that become research subjects (joining existing studies)

Business Communications:

今後の課題となるポイント
Points that will establish themselves as future challenges (emerging issues)

今後の課題になるポイント
Points that will become future challenges (developing into known issues)

Conclusion

The choice between と and に in state-change expressions isn’t merely grammatical – it reflects a deep conceptual distinction in how the change is viewed. と constructions (となる/とする) are about establishing or creating new conceptual categories or roles, while に constructions (になる/にする) deal with transformations between existing states or concepts. Understanding this fundamental difference helps us choose the appropriate form and express our intended meaning more precisely in Japanese.

This distinction also reminds us of the sophisticated nature of Japanese grammar, where seemingly similar constructions can carry subtle but significant differences in meaning. By understanding the conceptual basis of と and its role in creating new states or categories, we can better appreciate and utilize these nuances in our Japanese communication.