At a glance
Verb + がままに means "just as (someone says, wants, or does)" or "letting things happen as they are". It often shows that a person follows words, feelings, or events without resisting. It has a literary tone.
Verb (dictionary form) + がまま（に）
言われるがままに、書類にサインしてしまった。 I ended up signing the papers just as I was told.
How to form it
| Attaches to | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Verb, dictionary form | 思うがままに | as one wishes |
| Passive verb, dictionary form | 言われるがままに | just as one is told |
| Fixed phrase with ある | あるがまま | as it is |
| Shape | Example | Use |
|---|---|---|
| がままに + verb | 思うがままに書く | describes how an action is done |
| がまま、 | 誘われるがまま、行った | same meaning, に dropped |
| がままの + noun | あるがままの自分 | modifies a noun |
| がままになる | されるがままになる | "let others do as they please" |
Nouns do not take がまま directly. Use Noun + のまま(に) instead.