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

  • Register

    Standard

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

--:--

    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.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

ようにいのる – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

  • casual

    casual

    I would guess that:

    • both translations are possible
    • most people would interpret it like your version (I hope my friend is a safe driver, perhaps as a joke)
    • to disambiguate it in one direction, one could add a comma: 友達の車に乗る前に、死なないように祈る。
    • to disambiguate in the other direction, one could use potential: 友達の車に乗れる前に死なないように祈る。

    But I’m also curious what the staff meant and what the correct answer to your question is.

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @shadowstar !

    The translation should have been ‘Before I get in my friend’s car, I pray that I don’t die.’ so I have just fixed the translation!

    However, both translations would work depending on the situation!

  • shadowstar

    shadowstar

    Thank you both!!

Got questions about ようにいのる? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion