JLPT N3・N4 Grammar – The difference between “〜ように” and “〜通りに”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜ように” and “〜通とおりに”
2. 〜ように
3. 〜通とおりに・〜通どおり
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Is there a difference between “〜ように” and “〜通とおりに”？

A: Both expressions indicate that the content matches, but the level of accuracy of the match is different.

• ～ように: roughly the same (guideline: about 70–80%)
• ～通とおりに: almost exactly the same (guideline: close to 100%)

This “degree of match” is the key point for choosing which one to use. Let’s take a closer look.

〜ように (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
Used to show that something is similar to a given example

[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form / past form + ように
[Na] な adjective + な / である / だった + ように
[N] Noun + の / である / だった + ように

[Examples]　
私わたしが説明せつめいしたようにしてください。
Please do it as I explained.
⇒ I would like it to be roughly the same as my explanation.

子供こどもには遊あそぶ時間じかんが必要ひつようなように、大人おとなにも好すきなことをする時間じかんが必要ひつようです。
Like children need time to play, adults need time to do what they enjoy.
⇒ Like children playing, adults also engage in activities they enjoy.

見本みほんのように書かいてください。
Please write it like the sample.
⇒ It’s fine as long as it’s roughly the same as what’s written in the sample.

山田やまださんのようにかっこいい先輩せんぱいになりたいです。　
I want to become a cool senior like Mr. Yamada.
⇒ “ように” can also be used when referring to people or things as examples.

〜通とおりに (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
Indicates doing something according to instructions, a plan, or a situation, or that the result occurs as specified

[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary / past form + とおりに
[N] Noun + の + とおりに
[N] Noun + どおりに

[Examples]　
先生せんせいが言いった通とおりでした。
It was just as the teacher said.
⇒ This indicates that what the teacher said was almost exactly the same.

この通とおりに書かいてください。
Please write it exactly like this.
⇒ Compared to “ように,” this implies a stronger need for writing almost exactly the same.

説明せつめいの通とおりにやればうまくできますよ。
If you do it as explained, you will succeed.
⇒ It’s necessary to make it almost exactly the same as what was explained.

説明せつめい通どおりにやればうまくできますよ。
If you do it as explained, you will succeed.
⇒When used directly with a noun, it’s pronounced as “どおり.”
　However, be careful as it cannot be used with nouns representing people or things.

〇 練習れんしゅう通どおりにやればきっと勝かてます。
If you do it as practice, you will surely win.
× コーチ通どおりにやればきっと勝かてます。
If you do it as the coach taught, you will surely win.
〇コーチの教おしえてくれた通とおりにやれば勝かてます。
If you do it as the coach taught, you will surely win.

Let’s Compare

Now, let’s compare the two.

[Example]
マニュアルのように入力にゅうりょくしてください。

Please enter the information like the manual.

⇒ It is fine as long as you use the example as a reference. Small differences in how it is entered are acceptable.

マニュアルの通とおりに入力にゅうりょくしてください。

Please enter the information exactly like the manual.

⇒ You need to enter it so that it is almost the same as the example. You cannot change the order or the format.

Let’s look at another example.

[Example]
先生せんせいが書かいたように書かいてください。

Please write it like the way the teacher wrote it.

⇒ This means the teacher’s writing style is shown as a reference.

先生せんせいが書かいた通とおりに書かいてください。

Please write it exactly the way the teacher wrote it.

⇒ You need to reproduce the writing style accurately.

In this way, “～ように” is used when showing something as an example or when a rough match is sufficient.
The content does not have to be exactly the same, and the speaker intends for it to be used as a reference.
On the other hand, “～通とおりに” is used when doing something accurately according to instructions, explanations, or plans.
Very little deviation is allowed, and there is a strong expectation to reproduce it exactly as it is.

Summary

[〜ように]

• Shows an example or image and indicates that being “roughly the same” is sufficient.
• A perfect match is not required, and small differences are acceptable.
• The speaker uses it with the intention of “using it as a reference.”
• It is used to present a similar state or method by giving an example of a person, object, or action.

[〜通とおりに]

• Indicates that something should be done “almost exactly the same” by following instructions, explanations, or plans.
• Deviations in steps or content are basically not allowed.
• The speaker uses it with the intention of “reproducing it accurately as it is.”
• It is used in situations where there is a standard that must be followed, such as manuals, rules, schedules, or explanations.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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