YukaI keep hearing そんなふうに in Japanese conversations and dramas, but I’m not quite sure what it means or how to use it properly.
Reiそんなふうに is a really natural expression! It means “in that way” or “like that” — and once you get it, your Japanese will sound much more fluid.
The expression そんなふうに (sonnafuuni / そんな風に) is one of those phrases that appears constantly in natural Japanese speech but rarely gets covered in textbooks. Learning it will make both your speaking and listening feel much more native.
| Form | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| そんなふうに | sonnafuuni | In that way / Like that |
| こんなふうに | konnafuuni | In this way / Like this |
| あんなふうに | annafuuni | In that way over there / Like that |
| どんなふうに | donnafuuni | In what way? / How? |
What Does そんなふうに Mean?
そんなふうに breaks down as: そんな (that kind of / such) + ふうに (in the manner/way of). Together it means “in that way”, “like that”, or “in that manner”.
It’s used when referring to a way of doing something, a manner of speaking, thinking, or behaving that has already been mentioned or is understood from context.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| そんなふうに考えていたの？ | Were you thinking about it in that way? |
| そんなふうに言わないで。 | Don’t say it like that. |
| そんなふうにすればいいよ。 | You should do it like that. |
| 彼女はいつもそんなふうに話す。 | She always talks that way. |
YukaSo it points to a way or manner that’s already been established in the conversation?
ReiExactly! Think of it like the English phrase “like that” — it refers back to something already mentioned or visible.
そんなふうに vs こんなふうに vs あんなふうに
These expressions follow the こ・そ・あ・ど (kosoado) demonstrative pattern in Japanese, pointing to different distances:
| Expression | Pointing to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| こんなふうに | Near the speaker (this way) | こんなふうにやってみて (Try it like this) |
| そんなふうに | Near the listener or just mentioned (that way) | そんなふうに思ってたの？ (You thought that way?) |
| あんなふうに | Far from both (that way over there) | あんなふうになりたい (I want to be like that) |
| どんなふうに | Question (in what way) | どんなふうに説明する？ (How will you explain it?) |
Natural Usage in Conversation
そんなふうに is especially useful when:
- Reacting to someone’s behavior or words: そんなふうに思ってたんだ (I didn’t know you felt that way)
- Giving instructions by demonstrating: こんなふうにやって (Do it like this)
- Expressing wishes about a role model: あんなふうになりたい (I want to be like that person)
- Asking how to do something: どんなふうに言えばいい？ (How should I say it?)
YukaCan I use どんなふうに instead of どうやって when asking how to do something?
ReiYes! どんなふうに focuses on the manner or style, while どうやって focuses more on the method. Both are natural, but どんなふうに sounds a bit softer.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Issue | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| Using そんなふうに without context | Listener won’t know what ‘that way’ refers to | Set up context first, or use こんなふうに with a demonstration |
| Confusing with そのように | そのように is more formal/written | そんなふうに is casual/spoken; そのように suits formal writing |
Quick Quiz
Choose こんなふうに, そんなふうに, or あんなふうに:
1. ___ 踊りたい！(pointing to a dancer on TV far in memory)
2. ___ してみて。(demonstrating right now)
3. ___ 言うの？ (reacting to what the other person just said)
Answers: 1. あんなふうに 2. こんなふうに 3. そんなふうに
Summary
| Expression | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| こんなふうに | In this way (near speaker) | Casual speech |
| そんなふうに | In that way (near listener/mentioned) | Casual speech |
| あんなふうに | In that way (distant/recalled) | Casual speech |
| どんなふうに | In what way? (question) | Casual speech |
Yukaそんなふうに説明してもらったら、すごく分かりやすかった！
ReiPerfect use! And notice — you just used そんなふうに naturally to refer back to my explanation. You’re getting it!
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