Posted inN3 Grammar

Mastering とおりに: Follow the Path to N3 Grammar Success!

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“as,” “according to,” “the way,” “just like.”

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate that an action is performed, or something happens, exactly in the same way as something else (an instruction, a model, an observation, a plan, etc.).

📋 Grammar Structure

[Noun] の とおりに [Verb Dictionary form (Vる)] とおりに [Verb た form (Vた)] とおりに [この/その/あの/どの] とおりに (Note: With certain nouns like 予定, 予想, 計画, の is often omitted: 予定どおり, 予想どおり, 計画どおり)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used frequently when referring to official instructions, plans, or rules.

😊 Informal Situations

Common in daily conversation when talking about following advice, copying someone, or things happening as expected.

✍️ Written Language

Often seen in instruction manuals, recipes, reports, and descriptive texts.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very common in everyday conversations for giving or reporting on actions that follow a pattern.

💡 Common Applications

Following instructions or procedures.
Used with nouns like 説明書 (setsumeisho – instruction manual), レシピ (reshipi – recipe), 先生の話 (sensei no hanashi – teacher’s talk).
Example: 説明書のとおりに、組み立ててください。 (Setsumeisho no toori ni, kumitatete kudasai.) Please assemble it according to the instruction manual.
Describing things happening as predicted or planned.
Used with nouns like 予定 (yotei – plan), 予想 (yosou – expectation), 計画 (keikaku – plan). Note that often の is omitted with these specific nouns (e.g., 予定どおり).
Example: すべては私の計画どおりに進んでいます。 (Subete wa watashi no keikaku doori ni susunde imasu.) Everything is proceeding according to my plan.
Copying or imitating an action or state.
Used with verbs describing observation or past actions (見た、聞いた).
Example: 私がやったとおりに、やってみてください。 (Watashi ga yatta toori ni, yatte mite kudasai.) Please try doing it the way I did it.
📊
Frequency
High frequency in daily conversation and various written forms.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3). Understanding the connection rules is important.
Example Sentences
先生が言ったとおりに、宿題をしました。
I did the homework exactly as the teacher said.
地図のとおりに進めば、駅に着きますよ。
If you proceed according to the map, you will arrive at the station.
見たとおり、今日の会議は中止になりました。
As I saw (or: As you can see), today’s meeting was canceled.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Noun + とおり vs Noun + の とおり
While Noun + の + とおりに is standard, certain nouns commonly omit の (e.g., 予定どおり, 予想どおり, 計画どおり). Be aware of these common exceptions.
Example: 彼女は予想どおり合格した。 (Kanojo wa yosou doori goukaku shita.) She passed just as expected.
Verb Forms
Use the dictionary form for actions/states that are generally true or happening, and the た-form for completed actions or observations.
Example: 見る とおりに (as you see) 見た とおりに (as I saw)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using とおり instead of とおりに
✅ Use とおりに when modifying a verb to describe *how* an action is done.
とおり is a noun, とおりに is the adverbial phrase. You need に to connect it to the verb it modifies (except in cases like 予定どおり which function as adverbial phrases themselves).
❌ Incorrect verb form before とおりに
✅ Ensure you use Vる or Vた forms correctly depending on the nuance of “as seen/done” vs “as is/will be done/prescribed.”
Vた is for completed actions or observations used as the basis. Vる is for general states, current observations, or prescriptions (like instructions).

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to polite. Used in both formal and informal contexts.
Social Situations: Commonly used in situations involving following directions, reporting facts, or describing processes.
Regional Variations: Standard grammar pattern, no significant regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

とおりに vs ように
とおりに: Indicates an action or state that exactly matches a specific model, instruction, observation, or plan. It means “according to,” “in the way of,” “just like.” ように: Has multiple uses including indicating similarity (“like”), purpose/goal (“so that”), or requests/advice (“please do like this” – often softer than とおりに). It doesn’t necessarily imply exact replication.
When to use: Use とおりに when you want to emphasize that something follows a pattern or instruction precisely. Use ように when expressing similarity, purpose, or making softer requests.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Connects to Noun + の, Vる, Vた, この/その/あの/どの. Specific nouns like 予定, 予想, 計画 often omit の.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

とおり is pronounced to-o-ri (with a long ‘o’). とおりに is pronounced to-o-ri ni.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of とおり as “path” or “way.” とおりに means “along the path of” or “in the way of.” Visualize following a map or instructions exactly.

Practice Exercises
この紙に書いてある（\_\_\_\_\_\_）、名前と住所を記入してください。
とおり
ように
とおりに
ことで
先生が（\_\_\_\_\_\_）とおりに、練習しましょう。
言う
言った
言い
言われる
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