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なりに (narini) Meaning Japanese Grammar - In the Manner of

Author GokuGoku for article 'なりに (narini) Meaning Japanese Grammar - In the Manner of'

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なりに (narini) Meaning Japanese Grammar - In the Manner of

The expression なりに (nari ni) means in the way of..., in the manner of....

なりに indicates an action done following one's own directives or the directives of someone else to the letter. なりに also has the meaning of doing something to the best of one's abilities, even if these abilities may be limited.

In this post we learn more about the meaning of なりに, how it is formed, and when なりに is used through real example sentences.


How なりに is formed

Noun+なりに
Verb[Plain form]+なりに
Adjective[な]+なりに
Adjective[い]+なりに

How and when to use なりに

A use for this adverb is in all those situations where we act like this as we are told by someone, to follow to the letter what has been said or taught by someone.

(おや)()いなりになる。

Do exactly what the parents say.

In this nuance なりに has the same meaning of (とお)りに:

(ひと)()うとおりにすること。

Do the things others say.

あなた(まか)せ, leave, entrust things to others

なり - Typical attitude of ...

()(ども)なりの()(くつ)

Child Reasoning.

それなりに using other terms and translations is synonymous with:

  • 〜それ(そう)(おう)to the extent appropriate to

  • the adjective (そう)(おう)の which means adequate, appropriate, suitable

  • 〜に相応(ふさわ)しい (てい)()to the extent appropriate to ..., ふさわしい is the other reading and synonym of the term (そう)(おう)

Examples of なりに

()(ぶん)なりに

My own way

A synonym for ()(ぶん)なりに is ()(ぶん)()(しん)で: myself, I in first person:

Let's see an example with a noun + なりに:

(かれ)(かれ)なりに(いっ)(しょう)(けん)(めい)やっているのだと(おも)います。

I think he is engaging in his own way.

Example with an adjective in + なりに:

(うん)(どう)(かい)では、(とも)(だち)(あし)(おそ)いが(おそ)いなりによく(がん)()っていた。

At the Sport day, my friend was slow to walk, but despite his slowness, he worked hard.

(おそ)いなりに as slow as he was, despite his slowness...

Example with a verb in a plain form:

やる()()くても、()いなりに()きていける。

Even if we have no motivation in life, we can live without it.

Example with an adjective in な:

下手(へた)でも下手(へた)なりに(がん)()った。

I worked hard, even though I wasn't good.

The sense is even if I'm not good or considering the fact that I'm not good, in reality I have given my best.

The translation into our mother tongue often deviates from the original Japanese text, but it is a necessary process in order to convey the idea expressed in the sentence.

Adjective なりの

なりの + noun:

(わたし)なりの(こた)

My personal answer

あの(かい)(しゃ)なりの(せん)(りゃく)

That company's (own) strategy

In the two sentences reported なりの is synonymous with the adjective (どく)()own, personal, individual, original.

それなりに - as it is, in its own way

This expression with the demonstrative それ (that) of the kosoado series is used as an adverb.

The meaning he expresses towards the object he is talking about is to a certain extent, at a certain level, also expressed by the adjective: ある(てい)()to some extent.

あのレストランはそれなりに美味(おい)しかった。

We ate quite well at that restaurant.

(わたし)日本(にほん)()(かれ)らにそれなりに(つた)わりました。

My Japanese was understood quite well by them.

(かれ)はそれなりに()()くした。

He did at best his part of the work.

The literal sense of the sentence is To the extent that he was able to do that job, he did it well.

()()くす is one of the expressions with () (hands) which means do everything possible, use all means to do something.

それなりの - Reasonable

The adjective それなりの which can be rendered as reasonable, refers to something in line with personal motives and proper.

(かれ)がそんなに(いそ)ぐにはそれなりの()()があった。

Must have had his reasons for being in such a hurry.