Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 7: 1/22

(おも)(よう)As one hopes, As desired, As one thought

Structure

Phrase + (おも)ように + (Outcome)
Phrase + (おも)よう + Noun

Details

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About 思うように

(おも)うように is a common sentence pattern in Japanese that is used for illustrating when something either does or does not happen in the way that one had thought. This phrase may be interpreted as 'as one hopes', 'as desired', or 'as one thought'. (おも)うように is simply a combination of the う-Verb (おも)う and the conjunctive form of the auxiliary verb ようだ, ように.

Typical sentence structures that use this pattern will start with an (A) phrase highlighting the 'expectation', be followed by (おも)うように, then finished with a (B) phrase indicating the outcome. When (B) is a simple noun, (よう)な will be used instead.

As the (B) part of (おも)うように sentences will contain the information about whether the 'expectation' of (A) either was or was not met, this phrase may be used either positively or negatively to show that something did not meet, met, or even exceeded that expectation.

Examples

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    この(くるま)(おも)うように加速(かそく)しないからイライラする。

    It is irritating that this car doesn't accelerate like I hoped it would.

    オーケストラのメンバー(あつ)めが(おも)うようにいきません。

    Assembling orchestra members is not going as I had hoped it would.

    プリンを(つく)ったら、(おも)うように(かた)まらなくて(こま)った。

    When I made pudding, I had trouble getting it to firm up like I hoped it would.

    (おも)うように回転(かいてん)()けられるように、(なん)()卓球(たっきゅう)練習(れんしゅう)をしました。

    I practiced table tennis many times to be able to put a spin on the ball as I desired.

      ケーキ()みたいなお菓子(かし)(おも)うように(つく)れなかった。

      Making sweets like they do at the pastry shop didn't go as I had hoped it would.

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        思うように – Grammar Discussion

        Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

        • FredKore

          FredKore

          What’s the difference between 思うように and 思ったように?
          (They seem to be used interchangeably but there has to be a nuance difference.)

        • Fuga

          Fuga

          Hey @FredKore !

          We apologize for the late response.

          思うように and 思ったように doesn’t have a difference in nuance, and they can be used interchangeably!

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