〜まま（に） (~mama (ni)) — just as (told / felt); going along with
Going wherever someone's words or your own feelings lead — without stopping to think.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- At a phone shop the clerk keeps going: 'Sign here, and here, this plan is good' — and without reading, you sign everything exactly as told. Then the monthly bill arrives!
- That feeling — 'just as others said, without using my own judgement' — is 「言われるままに」.
Meaning
- The N1 「まま（に）」= 'wherever someone's words, wishes or your own feelings lead' — without resisting, without a plan.
- With passives showing someone else's influence (言われる・勧められる・誘われる): a slightly negative 'didn't use my own judgement' feeling.
- With verbs of your own feelings (思う・気の向く): a free, positive feeling.
How to attach
- V辞書形 + まま（に）; 「に」can be dropped
- Adding 「が」as in 「言われるがままに」makes it stronger: 'completely at someone else's will'.
Versus what you know
N3「〜たまま」(「電気をつけたまま寝た」) = leaving a state as it is — the N1 「まま（に）」means something different.
Watch out
The 'leave the state as is' meaning comes with Vた (窓を開けたまま); 「窓を開けるままに出かけた」is wrong.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
店員に勧められるままに、高いスマホのプランを契約してしまった。
てんいんにすすめられるままに、たかいスマホのプランをけいやくしてしまった。
I went along with what the clerk recommended and ended up signing up for an expensive phone plan.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 勧める = to recommend → passive: 勧められる (to be recommended) → attach 「ままに」 = just as recommended, without stopping → then 〜てしまった — regret at not using my own judgment.
休みの日は、気の向くままに電車に乗って、知らない町を歩く。
やすみのひは、きのむくままにでんしゃにのって、しらないまちをあるく。
On my days off, I get on a train wherever my mood takes me and walk around towns I don't know.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 気が向く = to feel like it → before 「まま」, use 「の」 instead of 「が」: 気の向く → 「ままに」 = wherever my mood takes me → then something done without a plan: 電車に乗って…歩く — a free, pleasant feeling.
子どもの頃は、親に言われるまま塾に通っていた。
こどものころは、おやにいわれるままじゅくにかよっていた。
As a child, I went to cram school just because my parents told me to.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 言う = to say → passive: 言われる (to be told) → 「まま」 (here 「に」 is left out) → then 塾に通っていた — not my own wish, only doing as I was told.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「医者に＿＿＿ままに、薬を飲み続けた。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Which verb form does it attach to?
V辞書形 + まま（に）. 言われるままに = just as told, without thinking for yourself.
In which sentence is 「まま（に）」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Which form do you need for 'leaving a state as is'?
Going out with the window left open = N3 「開けたまま」(Vた). V辞書形 + ままに is only for 'as told / as you feel'.
Which is closest in meaning to 「言われるままに」?
💡 Hint: Going wherever the words lead.
言われるままに = exactly as told, without refusing or using your own judgement.
Your score: /3