〜ままに
mama ni
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
just as …; at the mercy of …; following (one's heart, feet, orders)
〜ままに means letting something else decide your action: 言われるままに署名した = "signed just as he was told"; 足の向くままに歩いた = "walked wherever my feet took me". まま is "the state as it is"; に turns it into "in accordance with". The subject is passive, following instructions, impulses, or a flow.
Written and literary Japanese, narratives and essays. Common with passive verbs (言われる・命じられる・誘われる), motion or feeling nouns (足の向く・心の赴く・気の向く), and 思いのままに / 欲望のままに. In casual speech people say 〜とおりに or 〜に任せて.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
V受身 + ままに (言われるままに・命じられるままに)Vる + ままに (足の向くままに・心の赴くままに・気の向くままに)N + の + ままに (思いのままに・欲望のままに)Set phrases: 思いのままに (as one wishes)・時の流れるままに
Visual diagram
| Aspect | form | controller | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 言われるままに | passive verb + ままに | another person's words | 言われるままに署名した |
| 足の向くままに | Vる + ままに | one's own impulse | 足の向くままに歩いた |
| 思いのままに | N + の + ままに | one's own will (freely) | 思いのままに操る |
Natural examples
彼は言われるままに、書類に署名した。
かれはいわれるままに、しょるいにしょめいした。
He signed the documents just as he was told.
Passive 言われる + ままに: he simply did as told.
足の向くままに、知らない町を歩いた。
あしのむくままに、しらないまちをあるいた。
I wandered through the unfamiliar town wherever my feet took me.
足の向く + ままに: wandering without a plan.
彼は心の赴くままに絵を描いた。
かれはこころのおもむくままにえをかいた。
He painted as his heart moved him.
心の赴く + ままに: painting as inspiration led.
彼は上司に命じられるままに、不正な書類を作成してしまった。
かれはじょうしにめいじられるままに、ふせいなしょるいをさくせいしてしまった。
Doing just as his boss ordered, he ended up preparing fraudulent documents.
Passive + ままに with a critical tone.
定年後は、気の向くままに旅をして暮らしたい。
ていねんごは、きのむくままにたびをしてくらしたい。
After retirement, I want to live travelling wherever the mood takes me.
気の向くままに is a set phrase.
Similar grammar and the difference
〜とおりに
Everyday "just as (instructed)" (言われたとおりに). ままに is literary and adds a sense of passivity or drifting.
"In line with" a plan or policy, formal and neutral. ままに implies yielding control. Compare side by side
"In accordance with" instructions, or "as X changes". ままに stresses passivity or free drift more than compliance. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 言うままに署名した。
- ✓
- 言われるままに署名した。
- Why
- When another person controls the action, the verb is passive (言われる).
- ✗
- 足が向くままに
- ✓
- 足の向くままに
- Why
- In this set phrase the subject inside the modifier takes の, as is usual in literary style.
- ✗
- （会話で）先生に言われるままに書いたよ。
- ✓
- 先生に言われたとおりに書いたよ。
- Why
- ままに is literary; in casual speech use とおりに.
思いのままに means "freely, at will" (思いのままに操る); ままに without の after 思い is not used. The tone is often passive or drifting; with 命じられる it can criticize someone who did not think for themselves. Literary narratives use 時の流れるままに ("as time flows") and 波のままに.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- In 文法形式の判断, a passive verb or a set phrase (足の向く・心の赴く・気の向く) + a blank is ままに.
- Check the verb form: the passive is required when someone else directs the action.
- In 並べ替え, ままに follows the modifier directly; the main action comes after.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜ままに mean?
just as …; at the mercy of …; following (one's heart, feet, orders). 〜ままに means letting something else decide your action: 言われるままに署名した = "signed just as he was told"; 足の向くままに歩いた = "walked wherever my feet took me". まま is "the state as it is"; に turns it into "in accordance with". The subject is passive, following instructions, impulses, or a flow.
How do you form 〜ままに?
V受身 + ままに (言われるままに・命じられるままに) / Vる + ままに (足の向くままに・心の赴くままに・気の向くままに) / N + の + ままに (思いのままに・欲望のままに) / Set phrases: 思いのままに (as one wishes)・時の流れるままに. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜ままに used?
Written and literary Japanese, narratives and essays. Common with passive verbs (言われる・命じられる・誘われる), motion or feeling nouns (足の向く・心の赴く・気の向く), and 思いのままに / 欲望のままに. In casual speech people say 〜とおりに or 〜に任せて.
What is the difference between 〜ままに and 〜とおりに?
Everyday "just as (instructed)" (言われたとおりに). ままに is literary and adds a sense of passivity or drifting.
What is the difference between 〜ままに and 〜に沿って?
"In line with" a plan or policy, formal and neutral. ままに implies yielding control.
What is a common mistake with 〜ままに?
Wrong: 言うままに署名した。 Right: 言われるままに署名した。 When another person controls the action, the verb is passive (言われる).
Quick check
彼女は店員に勧められる（ ）、高い化粧品を買ってしまった。