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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

に慣（な）れる (ni nareru)

～に慣れる — get used to ～

In short · Means that through repeated experience something no longer feels strange or hard: “to get used to ～.” It follows a noun or a verb dictionary form plus の/こと. The target is marked with に.
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Pattern

  • 名詞＋に慣れる noun + に慣れる (新しい仕事に慣れる)
  • 動詞辞書形＋の＋に慣れる verb dictionary form + のに慣れる (早く起きるのに慣れる)

How to use it

Use it for gradually becoming comfortable with a new environment, job or food. Since it shows change, forms such as 〜に慣れてきた and 〜に慣れた are common. If not yet used to it, say 慣れていない or 慣れない.

Compared with similar forms

習慣になる means something becomes a natural daily habit, while 慣れる means experience has removed the resistance. The noun form is 慣れ. 〜に慣れている describes the state of being used to it, slightly different from the change expressed by 慣れた.

Examples

  • やっと新（あたら）しい仕事（しごと）に慣（な）れました。

    Yatto atarashii shigoto ni naremashita.

    I've finally gotten used to my new job.

    Noun + に慣れる.

  • この町（まち）の暮（く）らしに、だんだん慣（な）れてきた。

    Kono machi no kurashi ni, dandan naretekita.

    I've gradually gotten used to life in this town.

    〜てきた shows gradual change up to now.

  • 毎朝（まいあさ）早（はや）く起（お）きるのに、まだ慣（な）れない。

    Maiasa hayaku okiru no ni, mada narenai.

    I still haven't gotten used to waking up early every morning.

    Here のに = のに慣れない (the verb plus の). Not the “although” のに.

Common mistakes

  • The particle is に, not を: 新しい仕事に慣れる.
  • After a verb, you need の: 早く起きるのに慣れる. Do not say 起きるに慣れる.

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