ままに

Level

JLPT N2

Ratings

5/5

Quizzes Mastered

0/10

ままに

Study timer1:00 leftStudy 1 min to mark this lesson as studied

mamaniAdjectival, Descriptions

Yuzuo Chan

11.06.2025

Mark as learned

Collect

Mark as learned

Collect

Meaning

Doing B following A or just as A directs, or being led by A (an instruction, someone's wishes, a feeling or a natural flow) without resisting.

Conjugation

(A)Vる / V passive + ままに + (B): (A)Nの + ままに + (B)

Examples

Show translation

店員てんいんにすすめられるままに、高たかいかばんを買かってしまった。

気きの向むくままに、一人ひとりで旅たびに出でた。

心こころに浮うかぶままに、日記にっきを書かいた。

母ははに言いわれるままに、毎日まいにちピアノを練習れんしゅうした。

緊張きんちょうしないで、思おもうままに話はなしてください。

川かわの流ながれのままに、小ちいさな船ふねはゆっくり進すすんだ。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.title

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: 説明書せつめいしょのままに組くみ立たてた。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 説明書せつめいしょのとおりに組くみ立たてた。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: When you simply follow instructions or a model exactly, use とおりに. Nのままに can mean following the wishes, dictates, or flow associated with N, but it does not mean following an instruction manual exactly. To mean "as it is / leaving it unchanged," use Nのまま or Vたまま.

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: 窓まどを開あけるままに寝ねてしまった。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 窓まどを開あけたまま寝ねてしまった。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: To say that a state continues while another action happens, use Vたまま (without に). Vるままに means "following / being led by".

Key points

Use it when you act as you are told or as you feel, or let yourself be carried along. Common phrases are 言いわれるままに, 気きの向むくままに, 思おもうままに and 流ながれのままに. It is rather formal and literary, and is often used in narration. It differs from とおりに, which simply means "exactly according to" (e.g. the instructions). ままに stresses going along with something and often implies passivity. It also differs from Vたまま, which means "in the unchanged state of".

Practise this pattern with a free account