ように — So That / In Order To

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use ように (yō ni) to express purpose ("so that...", "in order to...") and describe hoped-for outcomes in Japanese.

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ように (yō ni) attaches to a verb and means "so that..." or "in order to...". It expresses the purpose or desired result of an action.

Think of it as:
"I do Action A so that Result B happens."

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1. The Basic Pattern

Dictionary form (plain non-past) verb + ように + main action

2. Two Common Uses

3. Important Grammar Note

• Use dictionary form (plain non-past) before ように
• The verb before ように is the goal/desired state
• The verb after ように is the action taken

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Example 1: Purpose (In Order To)

日本語が上手になるように、毎日勉強しています。
Nihongo ga jōzu ni naru yō ni, mainichi benkyō shite imasu.
I study every day so that I become good at Japanese.日本語上手毎

• Goal: 上手になる (jōzu ni naru) — become good上手
• Action: 毎日勉強する (mainichi benkyō suru) — study every day毎日勉強

Example 2: Hoped-for Outcome

忘れないように、メモを書きました。
Wasurenai yō ni, memo o kakimashita.
I wrote a memo so that I won't forget.忘書

• Goal: 忘れない (wasurenai) — not forget忘
• Action: メモを書く (memo o kaku) — write a memo書

Example 3: Making Something Happen

電車に間に合うように、早く起きました。
Densha ni maniau yō ni, hayaku okimashita.
I woke up early so that I would catch the train.電車間合早起

• Goal: 間に合う (maniau) — be in time間合
• Action: 早く起きる (hayaku okiru) — wake up early早起

Example 4: Negative Goal

風邪をひかないように、手を洗っています。
Kaze o hikanai yō ni, te o aratte imasu.
I wash my hands so that I don't catch a cold.風邪手洗

• Goal: ひかない (hikanai) — not catch (negative)
• Action: 手を洗う (te o arau) — wash hands手洗

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❌ Wrong: 日本語が上手になるために、毎日勉強しています。
(ために is for direct purpose with nouns, not verbs)日本語上手毎

✅ Correct: 日本語が上手になるように、毎日勉強しています。日本語上手毎

Key difference:

• ために (tame ni) = for the sake of (often with nouns or strong intention)
• ように (yō ni) = so that (for outcomes, hopes, and negative purposes)

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Fill in the blanks with the correct form:

1. テストに合格する**___ **、たくさん復習します。
   I review a lot so that I pass the test.合格復習

   合格復習

2. 子どもが寝られる**___ **、静かにしています。
   I keep quiet so that the child can sleep.子寝静

   子寝静

3. 遅刻しない**___ **、いつもより早く出ました。
   I left earlier than usual so that I wouldn't be late.遅刻早出

   遅刻早出

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Answers:

1. ように
2. ように
3. ように

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Summary

• ように means "so that / in order to"
• Attach it to the dictionary form of a verb
• The verb before ように = the goal
• The verb after ように = the action
• Use it for hoped-for outcomes, negative purposes, and indirect goals

Next Step

Practice making your own sentences using ように. Try combining it with:

• できる (dekiru) — to be able to
• わかる (wakaru) — to understand
• 忘れる (wasureru) — to forget (negative: 忘れないように)忘

Challenge: Write one sentence about something you do every day "so that" something good happens!