ように祈る【ようにいのる】

pray that, for, hope that, keep fingers crossed that

AI-generated

Structure

[verb (dictionary form)] + ように祈る [verb ない-form] + ように祈る

Description

ように祈る means "pray that" or "hope with all your heart that": the outcome is out of your hands. It follows the dictionary form for what you want to happen and the ない-form for what you want not to happen, and いのる祈る itself conjugates freely.

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I am praying that I can pass the exam.

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I pray that my family stays healthy.

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I am praying that no accidents happen.

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I prayed for success.

The verb before ように stays in the non-past even when the praying is in the past.

× 雨が降らなかったように祈った → 雨が降らないように祈った

ように祈る or といいな

is the everyday "I hope". ように祈る is earnest: real prayer at a shrine, or a serious wish for someone facing an operation or an exam.

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I hope it's sunny tomorrow.

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I am praying that the operation goes well.

Usage notes

These go beyond ように祈る after a verb.

ご～をお祈りします

In letters and speeches, a noun with を replaces the ように clause, and the humble おいのりしますお祈りします closes the message.

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I wish you good health.

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I wish you every success.

ように願う

in place of 祈る is "wish" rather than "pray", with no sense of a god being asked.

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I hope that peace will last.

Examples

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I am praying that the illness gets better soon.

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I pray that everyone can be happy.

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I prayed that it wouldn't rain.

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I am praying that his surgery goes well.

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I pray that the world will be at peace.

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I prayed that my friend would get home safely.

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All we can do is pray that an earthquake doesn't come.

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I prayed at the shrine to pass the exam.

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I pray every day that my dreams come true.

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Please pray that she stays well.

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I pray that the children can stay safe.

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I am praying that something like this never happens again.

References

ようにいのるBunpro

ように / ような

ように言う