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
Casual
Polite
Verb[る] + ように + 祈る
Verb[ない] + ように + 祈る
Verb[る] + ように + 祈ります
Verb[ない] + ように + 祈ります
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
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'.
  • 明日(あした)に雪(ゆき)降(ふ)っ学校(がっこう)休(やすみ)みになるように祈(いの)る
    I hope that it snows tomorrow and school gets canceled.
  • 世界(せかい)平和(へいわ)になるように祈(いの)る
    I hope that the world becomes a peaceful place.
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.
  • 授業中(じゅぎょうちゅう)に先生(せんせい)に呼(よ)ばれないように祈(いの)る
    I hope that the teacher doesn't call on me during class.
  • 友達(ともだち)車(くるま)に乗(の)る前(まえ)に死(し)なないように祈(いの)る
    I hope that I don't die before I get to ride in my friend's car.
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)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)テスト合格(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 (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
    I hope that you get into the college that you want to get into. (Hope for your sake)
  • 来年(らいねん)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)
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
生(い)きてここ出(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.
Play  
彼(かれ)安全(あんぜん)帰(かえ)れるように祈(いの)ろう
Let's pray that he can come home safely.
Play  
日本語(にほんご)能力試験(のうりょくしけん)合格(ごうかく)できるように毎日(まいにち)祈(いの)っている
I am praying every day for the ability to pass the JLPT.
Play  
Online
Books
Tobira
Page 142