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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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

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.
  • 子供(こども)に水(みず)をこぼさないように言(い)う。
    I tell my child not to spill his water. (To tell them in a way that 'not spilling the water' is the focus)
  • 弁護士(べんごし)が犯人(はんにん)に警察(けいさつ)に話(はな)さないように言(い)う。
    The lawyer told the criminal to not talk to the police. (To tell them in a way that 'not talking to the police' is the focus)
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.
  • 俺(おれ)の漫画(まんが)を借(か)りてもいいけど、破(やぶ)らないように頼(たの)むよ。
    It is okay for me to let you borrow my manga, but I request that you not rip it.
  • 総理(そうり)は国民(こくみん)に海外旅行(かいがいりょこう)に行(い)かないように命(めい)じる。
    The prime minister will order citizens to not travel abroad.
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

  • お弁当(べんとう)を持(も)って行(い)くことを忘(わす)れないように言(い)った。

    I told you not to forget to take your lunchbox with you.

  • トムに手伝(てつだ)いをするように頼(たの)んだよ。

    I requested 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 ask 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)

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ようにいう – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

  • CrisH

    CrisH

    About 2 years ago

    It says that this is used for indirect quoted, but in the example
    僕(ぼく)のスマホを貸(か)してあげるけど、濡(ぬ)れないように頼(たの)むぞ。
    it seems to me to be a direct request. Is it something to do with the construction of the larger sentence?

  • EdBunpro

    EdBunpro

    About 2 years ago

    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

    About 2 months ago

    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。

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