“〜no mama・〜toori”: Staying As Is vs According To [JLPT N4]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

The subtle difference between ‘keeping things as they are' and ‘following instructions.'

「昔のまま」 vs 「言われたとおり」 — one is “stays unchanged,” the other “done as told”

「この町は昔のままだ」 (this town stays the way it was) vs 「先生に言われたとおりにやった」 (I did it as the teacher told me) — both relate to “as/according to,” but differ: 〜のまま = keep a state, stay unchanged (nothing changed); 〜とおり = according to ~ (following an instruction, method, or outcome). This guide sorts this often-confused pair by “stays unchanged vs done accordingly.”

Core: のまま (stays unchanged) vs とおり (according to)

• 〜のまま = keep a state, untouched (state unchanged): 靴を履いたまま、部屋に入る (enter with shoes still on = keeping the “shoes on” state).
• 〜とおり = according to, just as (following an instruction/method/outcome): 説明書のとおりに組み立てる (assemble as per the manual).

Test: “a state stays unchanged” → のまま; “done following a model/instruction” → とおり.

How to Connect

Examples in use

• この町は、昔のままの風景が残っている。(This town keeps its old scenery.) — stays unchanged
• 電気をつけたまま、寝てしまった。(I fell asleep with the light on.) — keeping a state
• 先生に言われたとおりに、書いた。(I wrote it as the teacher told me.) — done accordingly
• 電車は時間どおりに来た。(The train came on time (as scheduled).) — according to
• 予想したとおり、彼が優勝した。(As predicted, he won.) — just as the outcome

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① Don't mix のまま (state unchanged) vs とおり (done accordingly). 「昔のまま」 = keeps the old state (unchanged); 「言ったとおり」 = done as told. One is “stays,” the other “follows.”

② とおり voices to 「どおり」. After a noun it often voices — 時間どおり (on time), 予定どおり (as planned); after a verb it's 「とおり」 (思ったとおり = as thought). Usually どおり after nouns, とおり after verbs.

③ 「〜たまま」 = “staying in a state after an action.” 立ったまま食べる (eat standing), つけたまま (left on) — this “holding a state still” takes まま, the verb version of のまま.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: のまま／とおり／ように

💡 How to remember this

For 「のまま vs とおり」, one image separates them: まま = “freeze” a state (昔のまま = stuck in the past, つけたまま = left on); とおり = “follow a model” (言われたとおり = as instructed, 時間どおり = on time). One is “unchanged,” the other “following.” Practical note: とおり often voices to 「どおり」 after a noun (予定どおり, 時間どおり). Grasp “stay vs follow” and you won't reverse the pair.

❓ FAQ

Q: 「昔のまま」 vs 「言われたとおり」?

Completely different ideas. 「昔のまま」 = keeps the old state, unchanged (staying); 「言われたとおり」 = done as (someone) said (following). The first stresses “state unchanged,” the second “acting per a model/instruction.” One is “kept as-is,” the other “done to match.”

Q: When is 「とおり」 read 「どおり」?

After a noun it often voices to 「どおり」: 時間どおり (on time), 予定どおり (as planned), いつもどおり (as usual). After a verb (dictionary／た-form) it's 「とおり」: 言うとおり, 思ったとおり (as thought). Simple rule: usually どおり after nouns, とおり after verbs.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「先生に言われた___にやってみた。」(did it as the teacher said)

(A) とおり　(B) ながら　(C) ばかり　(D) どころ

Q2. 「電車は時間___に来た。」(the train came on time) What is the voiced form after a noun?

(A) どおり　(B) とおり　(C) のとおり　(D) まま

Q3. What does 「昔のまま」 mean?

(A) Remaining as it was before, unchanged

(B) Having become different from before

(C) About to change

(D) Returning to the past

Q4. Which correctly states the difference between 「とおり」 and 「のまま」?

(A) とおり = in the way that ~; のまま = staying in its original state, unchanged

(B) They are exactly the same

(C) とおり = staying unchanged

(D) のまま = in the way that

Q5. Which usage is correct?

(A) 予定どおり進む。　(B) 予定とおりに進む。

(C) 思ったどおり。　(D) 説明書どおりのとおり。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) とおり ── verb ta-form + とおり = in the way that ~.

2. (A) どおり ── A noun attaches directly with voicing: 時間どおり.

3. (A) ── Staying as it was before.

4. (A) ── とおり in the way that; のまま staying in its original state.

5. (A) ── Nouns take どおり (予定どおり); verbs take とおり.