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.

Related

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 (5 in total)

  • 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.)

  • balzua

    balzua

    Hi, in the example sentence

    弁護士が犯人に警察に話さないように言う。

    The translation given is:

    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)

    My question is, why is the English translation in past tense when the sentence uses 言う and not 言った? Is there some nuance to this around using the non-past form? Otherwise I would have interpret it as "the lawyer will tell or tells the criminal not to talk to the police.

    Thanks!

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