as, to do as~ (ままに) – Japanese Grammar ままに (mama ni)

Q: What JLPT level is ままに?

JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Q: How do you use ままに in a sentence?

Attach ままに to the appropriate verb or noun form. As, to do as~

Q: Is ままに formal or casual Japanese?

ままに is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

ままに

N2 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

mama ni

as, to do as~

そう言えば sou ieba 得ない enai ないことには～ない nai koto niwa~nai に応じて ni oujite 少しも～ない sukoshi mo~nai にせよ/ にしろ ni seyo/ ni shiro ないではいられない nai dewa irarenai ところに tokoro ni の下で no moto de ばかりに bakari ni ねばならない neba naranai 抜く nuku ようか～まいか you ka~mai ka もう少しで mou sukoshi de まい mai より [2] yori にも関わらず nimo kakawarazu に限って ni kagitte に限らず ni kagirazu やがて yagate そう言えば sou ieba 得ない enai ないことには～ない nai koto niwa~nai に応じて ni oujite 少しも～ない sukoshi mo~nai にせよ/ にしろ ni seyo/ ni shiro ないではいられない nai dewa irarenai ところに tokoro ni の下で no moto de ばかりに bakari ni ねばならない neba naranai 抜く nuku ようか～まいか you ka~mai ka もう少しで mou sukoshi de まい mai より [2] yori にも関わらず nimo kakawarazu に限って ni kagitte に限らず ni kagirazu やがて yagate

🃏 Flashcard

ままに

mama ni

Tap to reveal usage

as, to do as~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N2

Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Reading mama ni

Post ID 51058

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

as, to do as~

📖 How to use it

Expresses doing something exactly as a condition or state dictates, often 'as one is told' or 'as it stands'.

Attaches to Attach to the dictionary form of a verb (e.g., 言うままに), the past tense of a verb (e.g., 言ったままに), or a noun followed by の (e.g., 希望のままに). For nouns, use のままに.

This pattern indicates that an action is done in accordance with something else, such as a person's words, a desire, or a state. It often translates as 'as (someone) says' or 'as it is'. For example, 言うままに means 'as one says', and 思うままに means 'as one thinks' or 'freely'.

It can also be used with an actual state or condition that is left unchanged, like 自然のままに (as nature is) or そのままに (as it is). In such cases, it often means 'to leave something as is'.

This pattern is somewhat formal and is often found in written narratives or set phrases. In casual speech, you might use とおりに or ように instead. For instance, 言うとおりに is more common in conversation.

彼は親の言うままに進学先を決めた。

Kare wa oya no iu mama ni shingakusaki o kimeta.

He chose his school exactly as his parents said.

彼女は自分の思うままに絵を描いた。

Kanojo wa jibun no omou mama ni e o kaita.

She painted the picture just as she felt.

自然のままに育てられた子どもはのびのびしている。

Shizen no mama ni sodaterareta kodomo wa nobinobi shite iru.

Children raised as nature intended are carefree.

Not とおりにとおりに is used when you follow a specific instruction or method (e.g., 説明書のとおりに, 'according to the manual'), while ままに often implies leaving things to one's own will or to a natural state, without active control.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

ままに

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat ままに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using ままに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns

← Previous

まい

will not; intend not to

全く～ない

not at all~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern ままに mean? ▼

As, to do as~

What JLPT level is ままに? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use ままに in a sentence? ▼

Attach ままに (mama ni) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is ままに formal or casual Japanese? ▼

ままに is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember ままに long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.