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JLPT N4Purpose & Manner

ように— Goal / Hope (so that ...)

Used for goals that are outside your direct control, or to describe a desired state you are aiming toward. "So that / in such a way that."

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Pro lessonUNIT 103 · PURPOSE & MANNER

Structure · 形

[Potential / Negative / Intransitive verb, plain form] + ように

Examples · 例文

  • 忘れないように、メモしました。

    Wasurenai yō ni, memo shimashita.

    I made a note so that I wouldn't forget.

    Negative verb (state to avoid) + ように

  • 早く歩けるように、リハビリをします。

    Hayaku arukeru yō ni, rihabiri o shimasu.

    I do rehab so that I can walk quickly.

    Potential verb (歩ける) = a change in ability + ように

  • 皆に聞こえるように、大きな声で話した。

    Minna ni kikoeru yō ni, ōkina koe de hanashita.

    I spoke loudly so that everyone could hear.

    Intransitive verb (聞こえる) = natural/resulting state + ように

Usage notes · 注意

  • The Limit Rule: Unlike ために (which takes volitional active verbs), ように prefers potential verbs, negative verbs, and intransitive verbs (states/abilities).
  • Hopes: Also used in wishes/prayers: 合格しますように ("I hope/pray I pass").
  • Soft Requests: Use 〜ようにしてください for habitual or indirect requests.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ように is tested against.

vsために

ために needs a controllable action and the same subject; ように handles outcomes you can't fully control (ability, avoidance, others' actions) and can have a different subject.

vsようにする

ようにする means "make an effort to / try to (habitually)"; the ように here just links a clause to a goal ("so that").

vsようになる

ようになる describes reaching a new state/ability ("came to be able to"); the purpose ように expresses aiming toward such a state.

More purpose & manner

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