JLPT N4 · Time and reason

Vた/Nのとおりに

Marks the model that an action follows

Meaning

とおりに says that an action follows exactly what was said, shown, written, or provided as a model.

Formation

  1. た or dictionary form + とおりに — 言ったとおりに
  2. A noun takes の: 地図のとおりに; often fused as どおり: 地図どおり

When to use it

Core use
Marks the model that an action follows

Examples

16 sentences
  • 地図ちずのとおりに歩きあるきました

    I walked according to the map.

  • 先生せんせいが見せみせたとおりに書いかいてください

    Please write it as the teacher showed you.

  • 説明書せつめいしょのとおりに組み立てくみたてます

    I will assemble it according to the instructions.

  • 予定よていのとおりに会議かいぎが始まりはじまりました

    The meeting started as scheduled.

  • 聞いきいたとおりにみんなに伝えつたえました

    I told everyone exactly what I heard.

  • 先生せんせいが書いかいたとおりに漢字かんじを書いかいてください

    Please write the kanji just as the teacher wrote it.

  • 説明書せつめいしょのとおりに組み立てくみたてました

    I assembled it according to the instructions.

8 more examples
  • 予定よていどおりに電車でんしゃが来きました

    The train arrived as scheduled.

  • 私わたしが言ういうとおりに動いうごいてください

    Please move as I tell you.

  • 地図ちずのとおりに歩いあるいたら着きつきました

    I followed the map and arrived.

  • 思っおもったとおりの味あじでした

    It tasted just as I expected.

  • 約束やくそくどおりに本ほんを返しかえしました

    I returned the book as promised.

  • 聞いきいたとおりに名前なまえを書きかきました

    I wrote the name as I heard it.

  • この写真しゃしんのとおりに料理りょうりを並べならべてください

    Please arrange the dishes as in this photo.

  • 結果けっかは予想よそうどおりでした

    The result was as expected.

Important notes

  • とおりに means following a model, instruction or observed manner.

Common mistakes

  • A noun normally takes のとおりに or forms a compound with どおり: 説明のとおりに, 予定どおり.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

  1. Sentence 1: 予定よていどおりに電車でんしゃが来きました

  2. Sentence 2: 約束やくそくどおりに本ほんを返しかえしました

  3. Sentence 3: 結果けっかは予想よそうどおりでした

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