adverbial N2 common casualpolitewritten
思うように — as one wishes
思うように ・ おもうように
Meaning
- as one wishes / the way one wants — usually negated: things not going as hoped
Key sentence
仕事が思うように進まない。
Work isn't going the way I want.
Usage
Most often appears with a negative — 思うように〜ない — to express frustration that reality falls short of one's hopes.
Examples
怪我で思うように動けない。
Because of the injury, I can't move the way I want.
なかなか思うような結果が出ない。
I just can't get the results I'm hoping for.
Notes
- Built from 思う ('think/want') + ように ('in the manner of'); 思いどおり is a close noun-based synonym ('just as one intended').
See 思うように in real sentences
Jengo shows 思うように the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.