N3 Methods, Scope, and Relation

~とおり(に): meaning, usage and examples

~とおり(に) means: according to... / as... / in the way that...

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

Examples

1. 地図ちずのとおりに、行いってください。

   Please follow the map.

2. 私わたしが言いったとおりに、書かいてください。

   Please write exactly as I said.

3. 電車でんしゃは時間じかんどおりに着つきました。

   The train arrived right on time.

4. 思おもったとおり、テストは難むずかしかったです。

   Just as I thought, the test was hard.

When to use it

Means "as," "just as," or "according to": an action or result matches a model, plan, instruction, or expectation. Use it when following directions (説明せつめい書しょのとおりに), doing what someone said (言いったとおりに), or saying something turned out as expected (思おもったとおり). とおりの + noun describes a result that matches the model.

Nuance

Neutral. Attached directly to a noun, it becomes どおり (予定よていどおり, 時間じかんどおり), which is very common. With the dictionary form, the model comes next (これから言いうとおりに); with the た-form, it was already said or done.

Compare

Compare とおりに with ように: 先生せんせいが言いったとおりに書かく (write exactly as the teacher said) vs 先生せんせいが言いったように (as the teacher said, looser and often used to cite someone). とおり stresses an exact match. Compare によって, which marks a method, not a model to copy.

Tip: Remember the noun shortcut: 予定よていどおり, 時間じかんどおり, 計画けいかくどおり. The と becomes ど when it attaches directly to a noun.