What it means
とおりに means “just as” or “in the same way as.” It shows that an action is carried out according to instructions, a model, a description, or something that happened earlier. It commonly follows a noun with の, a verb in the dictionary form, or a verb in the past form. The main verb can be changed to a polite form without changing the meaning of とおりに.
Usage note
とおりに is normally used when describing how an action is performed. When the following expression describes a state or result rather than an action, とおりだ or とおりの is often more natural than とおりに.
How to use it
説明書のとおりに、機械を組み立てました。
I assembled the machine just as the instructions said.
私は先生が示すとおりに、線を引きました。
I drew the line just as the teacher indicated.
私は写真で見たとおりに、建物を描きました。
I drew the building just as I saw it in the photograph.
説明書のとおりに、機械を組み立てた。
I assembled the machine just as the instructions said.
私は先生が示すとおりに、線を引いた。
I drew the line just as the teacher indicated.
私は写真で見たとおりに、建物を描いた。
I drew the building just as I saw it in the photograph.
Example sentences
料理番組で見たとおりに、野菜を細く切ってください。
Please cut the vegetables into thin strips just as you saw on the cooking show.
説明書のとおりに、洗濯機を操作してください。
Please operate the washing machine just as the instruction manual says.
先生が黒板に書いたとおりに、ノートへ漢字を写しました。
I copied the kanji into my notebook just as the teacher had written them on the blackboard.