N3 Wishes and Desires

~ますように/~ませんように: meaning, usage and examples

~ますように/~ませんように means: I pray... / I hope... (for something beyond one's control).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. JLPT N3に合格ごうかくしますように。

   I pray that I will pass JLPT N3.

2. 悪わるいことが起おきませんように。

   I hope nothing bad happens.

3. 家族かぞくがみんな元気げんきでいられますように。

   I hope my whole family stays healthy.

4. 明日あしたの試合しあいで、けがをしませんように。

   I hope I don't get hurt in tomorrow's game.

When to use it

Use ますように to make a wish or a prayer for something you cannot control: "I hope..." or "May..." It is used at shrines, on wish cards such as 絵馬えま and 七夕たなばた strips, in letters and cards, and when wishing others well: 皆みなさんが元気げんきでいられますように. ませんように means "I hope X doesn't happen."

Nuance

It often stands alone as a complete sentence and feels sincere, like a prayer. It keeps ます even when you are talking to yourself. It is used for luck, health and results, not for actions you can simply decide to do.

Compare

といいなあ is a lighter, everyday hope: 晴はれるといいなあ. ますように is more serious and prayer-like: 晴はれますように. ように after a plain verb with 言いう or 頼たのむ is different; it reports a request: 遅おくれないように言いった means "I told them not to be late."

Tip: Picture writing on a wish card at a shrine: write the wish with ます, then add ように, as in 合格ごうかくしますように.