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JLPT N3Expressions

～とおり(に)／～どおり— Just As, According To

Indicates that something is done or happens exactly in the manner previously stated, expected, or instructed. It means 'just as ~' or 'in accordance with ~'. When attached directly to a noun it becomes どおり (rendaku), and after a verb or の it stays とおり(に).

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Pro lessonUNIT 51 · EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb (plain) / Noun + の] + とおり(に) | [Noun] + どおり

Examples · 例文

  • 先生が言ったとおりに書いてください。

    Sensei ga itta toori ni kaite kudasai.

    Please write it just as the teacher said.

    とおりに follows the past verb 言った to mean 'in the way that was said'.

  • 予定どおり、会議は三時に始まった。

    Yotei doori, kaigi wa sanji ni hajimatta.

    As scheduled, the meeting started at three.

    どおり attaches directly to the noun 予定 (rendaku voicing).

  • この説明書のとおりに組み立てれば大丈夫です。

    Kono setsumeisho no toori ni kumitatereba daijoubu desu.

    If you assemble it according to this manual, it'll be fine.

    の + とおりに connects a noun to mean 'following the manual'.

Usage notes · 注意

  • Noun + どおり (思いどおり, 期待どおり, 計画どおり) needs no の and voices to どおり.
  • Noun + の + とおり keeps the unvoiced とおり.
  • に is often dropped, especially after nouns (予定どおり).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～とおり(に)／～どおり is tested against.

vs～ように

ように expresses a general manner or purpose ('so as to / like'), while とおりに means matching an exact stated model or instruction.

vs～まま

まま means leaving a state unchanged ('as it is'), whereas とおり means acting in accordance with a specified way.

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