The expression なりに (nari ni) means in the way of..., in the manner of....
なりに indicates an action done following one's own directives or the directives of someone else to the letter. なりに also has the meaning of doing something to the best of one's abilities, even if these abilities may be limited.
In this post we learn more about the meaning of なりに, how it is formed, and when なりに is used through real example sentences.
How なりに is formed
How and when to use なりに
A use for this adverb is in all those situations where we act like this as we are told by someone, to follow to the letter what has been said or taught by someone.
親の言いなりになる。
Do exactly what the parents say.
In this nuance なりに has the same meaning of 通りに:
人の言うとおりにすること。
Do the things others say.
あなた任せ, leave, entrust things to others
なり - Typical attitude of ...
子供なりの理屈
Child Reasoning.
それなりに using other terms and translations is synonymous with:
〜それ相応の
to the extent appropriate tothe adjective 相応の which means
adequate,appropriate,suitable〜に相応しい 程度の to the extent appropriate to ..., ふさわしい is the other reading and synonym of the term 相応
Examples of なりに
自分なりに
My own way
A synonym for 自分なりに is 自分自身で: myself, I in first person:
Let's see an example with a noun + なりに:
彼は彼なりに一生懸命やっているのだと思います。
I think he is engaging in his own way.
Example with an adjective in + なりに:
運動会では、友達は足が遅いが遅いなりによく頑張っていた。
At the Sport day, my friend was slow to walk, but despite his slowness, he worked hard.
遅いなりに as slow as he was, despite his slowness...
Example with a verb in a plain form:
やる気が無くても、無いなりに生きていける。
Even if we have no motivation in life, we can live without it.
Example with an adjective in な:
下手でも下手なりに頑張った。
I worked hard, even though I wasn't good.
The sense is even if I'm not good or considering the fact that I'm not good, in reality I have given my best.
The translation into our mother tongue often deviates from the original Japanese text, but it is a necessary process in order to convey the idea expressed in the sentence.
Adjective なりの
なりの + noun:
私なりの答え
My personal answer
あの会社なりの戦略
That company's (own) strategy
In the two sentences reported なりの is synonymous with the adjective 独自の own, personal, individual, original.
それなりに - as it is, in its own way
This expression with the demonstrative それ (that) of the kosoado series is used as an adverb.
The meaning he expresses towards the object he is talking about is to a certain extent, at a certain level, also expressed by the adjective: ある程度の to some extent.
あのレストランはそれなりに美味しかった。
We ate quite well at that restaurant.
私の日本語は彼らにそれなりに伝わりました。
My Japanese was understood quite well by them.
彼はそれなりに手を尽くした。
He did at best his part of the work.
The literal sense of the sentence is To the extent that he was able to do that job, he did it well.
手を尽くす is one of the expressions with 手 (hands) which means do everything possible, use all means to do something.
それなりの - Reasonable
The adjective それなりの which can be rendered as reasonable, refers to something in line with personal motives and proper.
彼がそんなに急ぐにはそれなりの理由があった。
Must have had his reasons for being in such a hurry.
Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚
やがる
やがる (yagaru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - How Dare You
とは
とは (to wa) Meaning Japanese Grammar - That
次から次に
次から次に (tsugikaratsugini) Meaning Japanese Grammar - One After the Other
でもなんでもない
でもなんでもない (demo nan demo nai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Not At All
てやる
てやる (te yaru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Wait and See