Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 9: 11/16

様(よう)に言(い)うTo tell, request, or order to do (in such a way)

Structure

Verb + ように + 言(い)う

(1) 頼たのむ、命めいじる

Details

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About ようにいう

ようにいう is an expression which combines the auxiliary verb ようだ, with the う-Verb 言(い)う. This indicates that something is being said in a way that instigates (A). As ようだ is being linked to the verb 言(い)う, it will take on its adverbial form, ように.

As ようにいう means 'to be said in the way of (A) being done', it is regularly translated as 'to tell', 'to request', or 'to order'. In the case of requesting, 頼(たの)む may substitute for 言(い)う. For ordering, 命(めい)じる may substitute for it instead.

言(い)う itself is the most versatile of these three verbs, as it may imply 'to order', or 'to request'. This will depend on the tone of the speaker/overall context of the request/order.

Examples

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    トムに手伝(てつだ)いをするように頼(たの)んだよ。

    I requested (in such a way) that Tom help out.

    子供(こども)らが怖(こわ)がらないように頼(たの)むよ。

    I request that you not scare the kids. (in such a way)

    卵(たまご)を買(か)うように言(い)ったはずだ。

    I most definitely told you to pick up some eggs. (In such a way)

    明日(あした)試合(しあい)があるので、今夜(こんや)よく眠(ねむ)るように言(い)った。

    Since we have a game tomorrow, I told them to get a good night's sleep tonight. (In such a way)

    息子(むすこ)に本(ほん)を月(つき)に1冊(さつ)読(よ)むように言(い)った。

    I told my son to read a book a month. (In such a way)

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ようにいう – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

  • EdBunpro

    EdBunpro

    Probably a SUPER nitpicky thing to bring up, but I feel like either this grammar point should have 頼む & 命じる written in kana or the kanji/kana should be shown in the question since it’s more about teaching the grammar point and less about remembering vocab. Perhaps new users may get thrown off a bit? I only bring this up because I stupidly couldn’t remember 頼むtoday and wasn’t able to answer with the basic ように言う

  • Luminiscental

    Luminiscental

    I think the example sentence

    誰もママに何も言わないように頼んだがバレてしまった。

    should have a comma after the が, so that in quizzes it’s clear that it isn’t meant to be the subject marking particle which would suggest nominalization is required. Compare

    誰もママに何も言わないように頼んだことがバレてしまった。

    with

    誰もママに何も言わないように頼んだが、バレてしまった。

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    from the description section…
    As ようにいう means ‘to be said in the way of (A) being done’, it is regularly…

    @Fuga This translation uses passive voice where it doesn’t need it.
    Suggested update:
    As ようにいう means 'to say in a way to do (A)'
    Or, ‘to say in a way that (A) happens’
    言う = to say
    言われる = to be said, it is said (passive tense)

    Like in the example sentence:
    卵を買うように言ったはずだ。
    I most definitely told you to pick up some eggs.
    (it’s not: It definitely was said that eggs were to be picked up.)

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