れる・られるままに

Do as (one is told or ordered…), In accordance with, In compliance with, Just like

私わたしは先輩せんぱいに言いわれるままにしただけですよ。

I only did things as I was told by senpai.

Explanation

「Vられるがまま（に）」 means 'doing just as one is told'. You give up thinking and resisting for yourself, and do whatever the other person says, asks or urges, helplessly. 「言われるがままにサインした」 (I signed just as I was told), 「相手に促されるままに大金を支払ってしまった」 (Urged on by the other party, I ended up paying a large sum). It often has a negative feel of being manipulated, having no will of your own and regretting it later, especially when looking back on being fooled or weak, but it can also be neutral: 「ガイドに案内されるまま街を歩いた」. Set phrases: 「言われるがまま」 (at someone's bidding), 「されるがまま」 (letting it be done to you), 「流されるがまま」 (going with the flow).

Mixed up with

「～（ら）れるがまま（に）」: passive obedience; you are completely controlled, with regret and weakness.

「思うままに」, 「望むがままに」: you are in charge and act as you wish; the opposite feel.

Examples

日本にほんでは上司じょうしに命めいじられるままに仕事しごとをしている人ひとが多おおい。
In Japan, many people work as ordered by their bosses.
インタビュー：「日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうし始はじめるまで流ながされるままに生いきてきた。」
Interview: 'Until I started learning Japanese, I just drifted through life.'
聞きかれるままに、彼女かのじょの住すんでいる場所ばしょを教おしえた。
I told him where she lives, just like I was asked.
婚活こんかつアプリで出会であった人ひとに言いわれるがままに、ギフトカードを買かってしまった。
I did as I was told by someone I met on a dating app and bought a gift card.
警察けいさつに聞きかれるままに、仲間なかまの名前なまえを教おしえた。
I gave the names of my accomplices to the police as they asked me.
強盗ごうとうに要求ようきゅうされるまま、金かねをわたした。
I handed over the money as demanded by the robber.
ガイドに案内あんないされるまま、私わたしたちはパリ市内しないを観光かんこうした。
We explored the city of Paris as guided by the guide.
先生せんせいに教おしえられるままに、生徒せいとはその発音はつおんを繰くり返かえした。
The students repeated the pronunciation just like they were taught by the teacher.
夫おっとは娘むすめにせがまれるままに何なんでも買かい与あたえてしまう。
My husband buys our daughter anything she pesters him for.
恥はずかしかったが、先生せんせいに指示しじされるままに初はじめて聴衆ちょうしゅうの前まえで歌うたった。
It was embarrassing, but as my teacher told me to, I sang in front of an audience for the first time.
友人ゆうじんが健康診断けんこうしんだんへ行いくことを薦すすめてきたので、言いわれるままにそうしました。
My friend recommended me to go for medical checkup and I did as I was told.
店員てんいんさんにすすめられるまま、この洋服ようふくを買かってしまった。でも、あまり自分じぶんには似合にあわないと思おもう。
I bought these clothes as advised by the shop clerk. But I don't think that they suit me very well.
苦にがい経験けいけん：「説明書せつめいしょに書かかれているままにノートパソコンを組くみ立たて直なおしたつもりだったけど、ネジが１本いっぽん残のこっている。」
Bitter experience: 'I thought that I had reassembled the laptop as written in the instructions, but I ended up with one screw left over...'
特とくに夢ゆめも無なかったので今いままで父ちちに言いわれるままに生いきてきたが、最近さいきんになって夢ゆめが出来できた。
Since I didn't particularly have a dream, I was just doing as I was told by my dad until now, but as of recently I have a goal.
今いままでは部長ぶちょうに命めいじられるままに仕事しごとをしていたが、最近さいきんになって部長ぶちょうの命令めいれいに疑問ぎもんを抱いだく事ことが多おおくなってきた。
I have always done my work as ordered by the manager up until now, but as of late I have come to harbor many doubts about his commands.

Explanation

Examples

日本にほんでは上司じょうしに命めいじられるままに仕事しごとをしている人ひとが多おおい。
In Japan, many people work as ordered by their bosses.
インタビュー：「日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうし始はじめるまで流ながされるままに生いきてきた。」
Interview: 'Until I started learning Japanese, I just drifted through life.'
聞きかれるままに、彼女かのじょの住すんでいる場所ばしょを教おしえた。
I told him where she lives, just like I was asked.
婚活こんかつアプリで出会であった人ひとに言いわれるがままに、ギフトカードを買かってしまった。
I did as I was told by someone I met on a dating app and bought a gift card.
警察けいさつに聞きかれるままに、仲間なかまの名前なまえを教おしえた。
I gave the names of my accomplices to the police as they asked me.
強盗ごうとうに要求ようきゅうされるまま、金かねをわたした。
I handed over the money as demanded by the robber.
ガイドに案内あんないされるまま、私わたしたちはパリ市内しないを観光かんこうした。
We explored the city of Paris as guided by the guide.
先生せんせいに教おしえられるままに、生徒せいとはその発音はつおんを繰くり返かえした。
The students repeated the pronunciation just like they were taught by the teacher.
夫おっとは娘むすめにせがまれるままに何なんでも買かい与あたえてしまう。
My husband buys our daughter anything she pesters him for.
恥はずかしかったが、先生せんせいに指示しじされるままに初はじめて聴衆ちょうしゅうの前まえで歌うたった。
It was embarrassing, but as my teacher told me to, I sang in front of an audience for the first time.
友人ゆうじんが健康診断けんこうしんだんへ行いくことを薦すすめてきたので、言いわれるままにそうしました。
My friend recommended me to go for medical checkup and I did as I was told.
店員てんいんさんにすすめられるまま、この洋服ようふくを買かってしまった。でも、あまり自分じぶんには似合にあわないと思おもう。
I bought these clothes as advised by the shop clerk. But I don't think that they suit me very well.
苦にがい経験けいけん：「説明書せつめいしょに書かかれているままにノートパソコンを組くみ立たて直なおしたつもりだったけど、ネジが１本いっぽん残のこっている。」
Bitter experience: 'I thought that I had reassembled the laptop as written in the instructions, but I ended up with one screw left over...'
特とくに夢ゆめも無なかったので今いままで父ちちに言いわれるままに生いきてきたが、最近さいきんになって夢ゆめが出来できた。
Since I didn't particularly have a dream, I was just doing as I was told by my dad until now, but as of recently I have a goal.
今いままでは部長ぶちょうに命めいじられるままに仕事しごとをしていたが、最近さいきんになって部長ぶちょうの命令めいれいに疑問ぎもんを抱いだく事ことが多おおくなってきた。
I have always done my work as ordered by the manager up until now, but as of late I have come to harbor many doubts about his commands.

れる・られるままに

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

れる・られるままに

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

Tested once in past papers