ふうに (fuu ni) Meaning Japanese Grammar - In a Way
Anna Baffa Volpe
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The expression ふうに (fuu ni) refers to the way, the manner in which an action is carried out, performed, or perceived.
It is a structure commonly used in the Japanese language, both in writing and in colloquial, informal speech.
ふうに is also used with the series of Japanese demonstratives Kosoado: こんなふうに, そんなふうに, あんなふうに, どんなふうに.
In this post, we will see the meaning of ふうに, how it is formed, and when ふうに is also used in the common structure というふうに.
Meaning of ふうに
ふうに is usually transcribed in Hiragana, but has its corresponding Kanji and is 風 which translates wind, air and also manner and style.
- ふうに in the adverbial form + Verb
- ふうな in adjectival form + Noun
When we use ふうに
ふうに is a synonym of それみたい and それっぽい, or のような: like, similar to, resembling or close to.
It describes a thing, situation, or action that resembles, is close to, or is similar to the thing expressed by the noun preceding ふうに.
- 日本風に means in other words 日本のイメージ or 日本的なもの something that is close to, resembles Japanese style, in Japanese style
- 日本風な料理 Japanese style cuisine, a Japanese style dish
日本風に変化したもの
Things that have been transformed in a Japanese way
ふうに is often translated this way, that way or in that way.
ふうに and the series of demonstratives
As I mentioned in the introduction to the post, the structure that includes ふうに is often found with the Kosoado series, the Japanese demonstratives.
in this way, like this
in that way, like that
in that way (over there), like that
in what way?" how?
どんなふうに見える?
What does it look like?
- How does it look?
- In what way does it look?
- How does it seem?
こんなふうに書いてあります。
It is written this way.
こんなふうに考えてみませんか。
How about thinking about it this way?
どんな風にやったらいいのか教えてください。
Tell us how we should do it.
Synonyms of expressions with demonstratives:
- こんな風に ⇨ こう言う風に
- そんな風に ⇨ そう言う風に
- あんな風に ⇨ ああ言う風に
- どんな風に ⇨ どう言う風に
そういうふうに思う人もいるでしょう。
Some people may think that way.
どういうふうに処理されたんですか。
How was it handled?
こういうふうに作ってください。
Please make it like this.
というふうに I perceive, I interpret, I think
と言う風に is used to express the way something is done, often translated in such a way that, in the way that or as said, in the manner of or like so.
It is commonly used to explain or clarify how something is perceived, seen or interpreted.
It is often combined with the verbs 考える and 思う and refers to how one thinks, how one considers a certain situation or how one interprets something.
テストに関しては、今回は大丈夫だと言う風に考えています。
As for the exam I think it will be okay this time.
部長は問題をこのように解決するというふうに行動されました。
The Director has acted in such a way as to solve the problem in this manner.
...
Other examples of ふうに
僕のことをわかったふうに言うな。
Don't act like you understand me.
どういうふうに答えを出すか。
How to come up with the answer?
Title of one of the Japanese publications by Toshitaka Hidaka, Japanese Ethologist and Behavioral Scientist 動物行動学者.
世界を、こんなふうに見てごらん。
Look at the world this way.
Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚