通(とお)りIn that way, Exactly, Precisely, Just as

Often, the noun とおり carries the meaning of 'in that way', or 'just like that'. In its kanji form, とおり will be written as 通(とお)り, and literally means 'street', or 'way'. However, it is regularly used to indicate the level of 'sameness' one thing has with another. This 'sameness' meaning appears when とおり is used as a suffix.

とおり (or どおり) may be used with verbs or nouns. In the case of verbs, it is common to see it being used after both the plain form, and the simple-past form.

• お客様(きゃくさま)のおっしゃる通(とお)りです。

  Honored guest, the thing you say is precisely correct. (That's exactly right)
• 彼(かれ)は僕(ぼく)の思(おも)った通(とお)りの時間(じかん)に帰(かえ)ってきた。

  Just as I expected, he came back when I thought he would come back.

Both どおり and のとおり may be used directly after nouns. However, とおり will only be used when the case marking particle の comes between the noun and とおり.

• 計画(けいかく)どおりに進(すす)めて行(い)きます。

  We will continue as the plan suggests.
• ご覧(らん)の通(とお)り、私(わたし)の手(て)には何(なに)もありません。

  As you can see, I have nothing in my hands.

While both of these structures may be used interchangeably, どおり is more common, especially in speech.

Fun Fact

Constructions like 言(い)った通(とお)り and その通(とお)り are used very frequently, simply as a polite way to agree with what has been said by another. In these cases, it translates similarly to 'that's exactly right', or 'that's it!'.

• リカの言(い)った通(とお)りだった！あそこのパン屋(や)さんはすごくおいしかった！

  It was exactly as you said, Rika! The bakery over there was very delicious!
• 本当(ほんとう)にその通(とお)りです！何(なん)でいつも私(わたし)たちがやらないといけないんですか。

  That's honestly exactly it! Why do we have to do it all the time?