![ように (youni) Meaning Japanese [JLPT N4]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhihvoarjzbopvdhqutnj.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fblogcovers%2Fgrammar%2Fyouni-japanese-grammar.webp&w=3840&q=75)
The expression ように (youni
) is very versatile and takes on various meanings in different expressions, including seems
, similar to
, just like
, for the purpose of
.
Some of the expressions in which ように appears are:
- のように
- ようになる
- ようにする
- 思うように
Each of these expressions modify and expand the meaning of ように in various situations.
In this post we learn more about the meaning of ように, how it is formed, and when ように is used through real example sentences.
How ように is formed
In its basic form ように means looks like
or similar to
.
This expression is formed by adding ように after any verb, adjective, or adverb. ように becomes ような when following a noun:
This usage of ように modifies the verb to indicate an action done just like...
. Let's see some examples of conjugations of ように and ような:
10代に戻ったように楽しかった。
It was fun just like being a teenager again.
想像できないようなアイディア。
Ideas like you can't imagine.
よう can be found in its kanji form 様, which is used in formal contexts.
How and when to use ように
As we have seen above, when ように follows any term it adds the meaning of similar to
, just like
, in the manner of
.
ように specifies something that has been done or exists in a particular way.
ように: for the purpose of
Another use of ように is to specify a purpose or objective.
In this sense ように is similar to ために:
- ために is used with verbs that express one's will to perform an action (volitional form)
- ように instead does not require the verb in the volitional form
Thus ように is used to express an action done for a specific purpose, and translates as for the purpose of
, so as
:
- What precedes ように is the goal to achieve
(A)
- What follows ように is the action performed to achieve that goal
(B)
Let's look at an example sentence:
遅刻しないように早く起きよう。
In order to not be late I will get up early.
- The purpose is in this sentence is
not being late
, expressed by 遅刻しない, which precedes ように - To achieve this purpose
I will get up early
, 早く起きよう, which follows ように
This structure can also be used when the agent in the (A)
and (B)
parts of the sentence are different.
In these cases the agent in (A)
performs an action or an effort in order to teach, push, motivate the agent in (B)
to achieve a certain goal.
Here is also an example to understand this meaning of ように:
文法が分かるように、先生は絵を使った。
In order to explain the grammar, the teacher used images.
The structure of the sentence does not change from the previous example. However, note how in this case the agent is the teacher
(先生) who performs an action in order to push the students (second agent) to understand the grammar (文法が分かる).
ように for commands and directions
When ように is used towards another person it acts as a command or instruction to tell the way in which a certain action must be performed in order to achieve a certain goal.
The form of the sentence, also in this case, is similar to what we saw previously. In these cases ように can be translated as so that
, in a way that
:
壊さないように運んでください。
Transport it so it doesn't break.
From the example we see how we are asked to carry something
(運んでください) but making sure not to break it
(壊さない).
In these cases ように can also be used as a form of command, do something as required or requested.
ように at the end of the sentence: hopes and prayers
When ように is found at the end of the sentence it takes the meaning of wish, hope, or even prayer to make something happen (goal).
When ように indicates a prayer it is often preceded by the polite form in ます.
Let's also see an example here:
素敵な一年になりますように。
We hope this is a wonderful year.
This expression is often found together with verbs like 祈っています (to pray
) and 願っています (to wish
).
のように
ように can be preceded by the particle の when following a noun, forming the expression のように:
The expression のように is used to modify the noun that precedes it to add the meaning of similar to
, like a
.
Let's see a simple example:
夢のような生活。
A life like a dream.
In this example the noun dream
(夢) is applied to life
(生活) to indicate a life
like a dream
.
君のような女の人はいない。
There is no woman like you.
彼女は氷のように冷たい。
She is cold as ice.
Examples of ように
この人はやくざのように見える。
That person looks like a gangster.
明日のテストで合格できますように。
I hope to pass tomorrow's test.
先生はみんなに分かるように言った。
The teacher said it to make everyone understand.