思(おも)い通(どお)り

おもいどおり

noun, adverb

as one wishes; as expected; the way one wants

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(おも)い通(どお)りにいかないこともある。

Sometimes things don't go as planned.

計画(けいかく)が思(おも)い通(どお)りに進(すす)んでいる。

The plan is progressing just as expected.

子(こ)どもが思(おも)い通(どお)りにならないと泣(な)き出(だ)す。

The child starts crying when things don't go their way.

長年(ながねん)の努力(どりょく)が実(みの)り、思(おも)い通(どお)りの結果(けっか)を得(え)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(おも)い (thought, wish) + 通(どお)り (in accordance with). Almost always used with the particle に to form the adverbial phrase 思(おも)い通(どお)りに. Very common in everyday Japanese. The negative pattern 思(おも)い通(どお)りにいかない (things don't go as planned) is especially frequent.

Common patterns

思(おも)い通(どお)りになる: to go as one wants
思(おも)い通(どお)りにならない: to not go as one wants
思(おも)い通(どお)りにいく: to go as planned
思(おも)い通(どお)りにいかない: to not go as planned
思(おも)い通(どお)りの結果(けっか): the result one hoped for

Similar words

予想(よそう)通(どお)り: as expected — based on prediction rather than desire
期待(きたい)通(どお)り: as hoped — close synonym, emphasizes expectation
思(おも)うがまま: as one pleases — more literary; emphasizes freedom of action rather than outcomes matching wishes
計画(けいかく)通(どお)り: according to plan — focuses on following a specific plan

Related Words

Compare: 予想通(よそうどお)り (as expected)

Compare: 期待通(きたいどお)り (as hoped)

Compare: 思(おも)うがまま (as one pleases)

Compare: 意(い)のまま (as one wishes)

general

Added 2026.4.28 0:12 · Revised 2026.10.2 9:20

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