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Japanese grammar

What does ～とおりに mean? Japanese grammar N4

～とおりに means exactly as ~, just like ~.

Quick facts
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)N4
StructureVる／Vた + とおりに
N + のとおりに
N + どおりに
Romaji~ tōri ni
Meaningexactly as ~, just like ~

How to use it

Doing an action exactly according to instructions, a model, a plan, or something seen/heard.

  • とおり means "exactly according to a way." Vるとおりに is according to something that will be/is being done; Vたとおりに is according to something already done, seen, or said.
  • Nouns are usually connected with の: 説明のとおり. Some compound nouns connect directly and shift the pronunciation to どおり: 予定どおり, 計画どおり.
  • 「Vるとおり」is used when the matter hasn't happened yet or is a general truth: 「ご存じのとおり」「私が言うとおりにしてください」. Add 「に」when modifying a verb 「言ったとおりに作る」, drop 「に」when used as a predicate 「言ったとおりだ」. Attached directly after a noun, the pronunciation becomes voiced 「どおり」: 予定どおり・期待どおり・時間どおり. Compared to 「ように」: 「とおりに」requires an exact match, 「ように」allows a bit of leeway — and there is NO form 「な-adjective + だとおり」.

Examples

  • Please write it exactly as the teacher explained.

  • The train arrived at the station as scheduled.

  • I did the homework exactly as the teacher said.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong説明(せつめい)とおりにしてください。

    Please do it exactly according to the explanation.

    Correct説明(せつめい)のとおりにしてください。

    The noun 説明 needs の before とおり. Only certain fixed words like 予定どおり connect directly and change to どおり.

  • Wrong予定(よてい)とおりに終(お)わりました。

    It ended exactly as scheduled.

    Correct予定(よてい)どおりに終(お)わりました。

    When attached directly to a noun, the pronunciation becomes voiced as 「どおり」.

  • Wrong地図(ちず)とおりに歩(ある)いた。

    I walked exactly according to the map.

    Correct地図(ちず)のとおりに歩(ある)いた。

    A noun connecting with 「とおりに」needs 「の」(地図のとおりに), or use the voiced form 「どおり」(地図どおり).

  • Wrong思(おも)うとおりに、試験(しけん)は難(むずか)しかった。

    Just as I thought, the exam was difficult.

    Correct思(おも)ったとおりに、試験(しけん)は難(むずか)しかった。

    When the actual result matches something thought BEFOREHAND, the past tense 「思ったとおり」is used.

  • Wrong地図(ちず)とおりに歩(ある)いてください。

    Please walk exactly according to the map.

    Correct地図(ちず)のとおりに歩(ある)いてください。

    A standalone noun must connect via 「の」(or be combined as 「地図どおり」).

  • Wrong予定(よてい)とおりに進(すす)んでいます。

    It is proceeding exactly as scheduled.

    Correct予定(よてい)どおりに進(すす)んでいます。

    Connecting directly, the pronunciation becomes voiced 「どおり」.

Exam tips

  • 予定／計画 directly before the blank usually means choosing どおり; an ordinary noun chooses のとおり.

Related patterns

All N4 grammar →