1.
as one wishes; as one expects; the way one intended or hoped
Describes a situation or outcome that matches what someone wanted, planned, or envisioned. Can be used both when things go well and when lamenting that things did not go as hoped.
思い通りにいかないこともある。
Sometimes things don't go as planned.
計画が思い通りに進んでいる。
The plan is progressing just as expected.
子どもが思い通りにならないと泣き出す。
The child starts crying when things don't go their way.
長年の努力が実り、思い通りの結果を得ることができた。
Years of effort bore fruit, and I was able to get the results I had hoped for.
Composed of 思い (thought, wish) + 通り (in accordance with). Almost always used with the particle に to form the adverbial phrase 思い通りに. Very common in everyday Japanese. The negative pattern 思い通りにいかない (things don't go as planned) is especially frequent.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 思い通りになる: to go as one wants
- 思い通りにならない: to not go as one wants
- 思い通りにいく: to go as planned
- 思い通りにいかない: to not go as planned
- 思い通りの結果: the result one hoped for
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 予想通り: as expected — based on prediction rather than desire
- 期待通り: as hoped — close synonym, emphasizes expectation
- 思うがまま: as one pleases — more literary; emphasizes freedom of action rather than outcomes matching wishes
- 計画通り: according to plan — focuses on following a specific plan