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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

とおりに (toori ni)

とおりに — “just as ～ / in the way ～”

In short · Verb dictionary / ta-form, or noun の + とおりに means “just as ～, in the same way as ～.” The action follows exactly what someone said, taught, or wrote. It is used with words of instruction and models.
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Pattern

  • 動詞辞書形／た形 ＋ とおりに dictionary / ta-form + とおりに (言うとおりに, 教えてくれたとおりに)
  • 名詞 ＋ の ＋ とおりに noun + の + とおりに (説明書のとおりに)

Meaning and connection

とおり means “way, manner.” The verb or noun before it is the model, and the action after it matches that model. 私が言うとおりに書いてください. With nouns use の: 説明書のとおりに.

Tense

The dictionary form is used for something that happens at the same time or in the future (言うとおりに). The ta-form is used when the model is already given (教えてくれたとおりに).

Reading and writing

As a noun-like word it is often written in hiragana: とおり. The kanji 通り is also correct. Note that the same word may be read どおり after a noun without の: 説明書どおりに.

Examples

  • 私（わたし）が言（い）うとおりに書（か）いてください。

    Watashi ga iu tōri ni kaite kudasai.

    Please write just as I say.

  • 説明書（せつめいしょ）のとおりに組（く）み立（た）てたのに、動（うご）かない。

    Setsumeisho no tōri ni kumitateta noni, ugokanai.

    I assembled it just as the manual said, yet it doesn't work.

  • 先生（せんせい）が教（おし）えてくれたとおりに、料理（りょうり）を作（つく）った。

    Sensei ga oshiete kureta tōri ni, ryōri o tsukutta.

    I cooked exactly the way the teacher taught me.

Common mistakes

  • With a noun, either use の + とおり or attach どおり directly: 説明書のとおり / 説明書どおり. Do not say 説明書とおり.
  • Do not confuse it with 通り (street).

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