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

  • 使用域

    一般

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'.
  • 明日(あした)に雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)って学校(がっこう)が休(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)が平和(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)の車(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)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.

  • 日本語(にほんご)能力試験(のうりょくしけん)に合格(ごうかく)できるように毎日(まいにち)祈(いの)っているわよ。

    I am praying every day for the ability to pass the JLPT.

  • 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.

    This is a common expression similar to 'Wish me luck'.

  • 親(おや)：「マルちゃんは何(なに)を祈(いの)っているの？」
    娘(むすめ)のマルちゃん：「ワシみたいに飛(と)べるように祈(いの)っているのだ！」

    Parent: 'What are you praying for, Maru-chan?'
    Daughter, Maru-chan: 'I am praying for the ability to fly like an eagle!'

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ようにいのる – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

    About 3 years ago

    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

    About 2 years ago

    Still kind curious about this

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 2 years ago

    @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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