Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 9: 13/16

様(よう)に祈(いの)る

Pray that/for, Hope that/for, Keep fingers crossed that

Structure

Verb［る］ + ように + 祈(いの)る
Verb［ない］ + ように + 祈(いの)る

Details

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About ようにいのる

As we have seen several times now, the auxiliary verb ようだ is frequently used with verbs, to express that the 'completion' of an action is the specific goal/wish of the speaker. It does this implicitly through the meaning of the kanji 様(よう) 'manner of doing'.

ようにいのる (or 祈(いの)る in its kanji form) is no different, and will imply that the speaker is praying for (A) to be done/completed. This comes from the meaning of the う-Verb 祈(いの)る itself, which can be translated as 'to pray', or 'to beg'. Despite being able to be used when actually praying, this grammar point is used most often to express a 'hope'.

In a similar way to other ように structures, ないように may also be used with 祈(いの)る, to show that someone is praying for something 'not' to happen.

Caution

However, 'unlike' other ように structures, ように祈(いの)る will sometimes be shortened to ように by itself. This is especially true after ます.

  • 今年(ことし)は国(くに)に帰(かえ)れますように。
    I pray that you can go back to your country this year.
  • 明日(あした)のテストで合格(ごうかく)できますように。
    I pray that I can pass tomorrow's test.

This is the only ように structure that will have the verb that comes after it omitted. Therefore, ように (by itself) will always mean 'to hope for', and should not be confused with ようにする, ようになる, ようにいう, and other similar grammar points.

Fun Fact

といい is also used to express 'to hope for (A)', or 'to wish for (A)'. However, unlike ように祈(いの)る, the person that the speaker is praying for with といい will mainly be determined by the use of ね (praying for someone else), or な (praying for themselves).

  • 行(い)きたい大学(だいがく)に行(い)けるといいね。
    I hope that you get into the college that you want to get into. (Hope for your sake)
  • 来年(らいねん)は海外旅行(かいがいりょこう)に行(い)けるといいな。
    I hope I can travel abroad next year. (Hope for my own sake)

Examples

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    生(い)きてここを出(で)られるように祈(いの)っているんだ。

    I am praying that I can leave this place alive.

    彼(かれ)が安全(あんぜん)に帰(かえ)れるように祈(いの)ろう！

    Let's pray that he can come home safely.

    うまく行(い)くように祈(いの)って(ください)ね。

    Please pray that it will go well.

    このノートパソコンに税金(ぜいきん)がかからないように祈(いの)っている。

    I am praying that this laptop is not subject to taxation!

    うちの娘(むすめ)が事故(じこ)に遭(あ)わないように祈(いの)っているわ。

    I am praying that our daughter won't have an accident.

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ようにいのる – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

    When it says “praying” does this have the same feel as “praying” in the western religious sense? And is this still used regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof?

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

    Still kind curious about this

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    @Johnathan-Weir
    Good think you have bumped it! I wouldn’t have noticed it other way

    Yeah, Japanese use it quite often even if they do not pray at all or are atheist. Similar to English. You can think of it as “hope” in that case.

    生きて街を出られるように祈る
    I pray (or simply “hope”) that you can live the town alive.

    I hope () it helps,
    Cheers!

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