（が）まま（に）Following another's lead (passive submission)
A passive verb followed by this pattern describes someone yielding to another person's direction, pressure, or an outside force and then acting without independently changing course. It often suggests passivity, helplessness, or poor judgment, though trusting compliance can be neutral.
How it works
The passive verb identifies the direction or force being yielded to; the following clause tells you what the person then does. Verbs meaning “be told,” “be urged,” “be invited,” “be shown,” or “be carried along” fit especially well. Common forms include 言われる, 勧められる, 誘われる, and 流される.
A cautionary use
彼は相手に言われるがままに、暗証番号まで教えてしまった。
He did exactly as the other person told him and even revealed his PIN.
AnalyzeThe pattern presents him as surrendering control rather than making an independent decision.
A less critical use
患者は、医師に指示されるがままに体を動かした。
The patient moved as instructed by the doctor.
AnalyzeHere the patient is still following another person's direction, but the compliance is reasonable rather than foolish.
The optional parts
がままに makes the relationship especially explicit, but both particles can be omitted in natural examples. Omitting them does not change the central requirement: a passive verb must present the person as being led, pressured, or carried along by something outside their control.
Natural variation
Three important contrasts
A passive verb before がままに highlights being led by another will or outside force. A dictionary-form verb with the same expression instead presents acting as one wishes or letting events run their course. A past verb followed by まま simply maintains an unchanged state. Finally, とおり neutrally says that an action matches instructions or a model, without suggesting surrender of control.
係員に言われたとおりに、番号を入力した。
I entered the number exactly as the attendant instructed.
AnalyzeThis neighboring pattern reports a neutral match to instructions; it does not portray the person as surrendering judgment.
More examples
上司に命じられるがままに、彼は不正な数字を報告書へ書き込んだ。
Following his supervisor's orders without resistance, he entered false figures in the report.
Analyze係員に導かれるまま、私たちは非常口まで進んだ。
We followed the attendant's lead to the emergency exit.
Analyze広告にあおられるがままに、必要のない商品まで買ってしまった。
Carried away by the advertising, I ended up buying even products I did not need.
Analyze彼女は周囲に勧められるまま、その計画に参加した。
She joined the project simply because everyone around her urged her to.
Analyze新人は責任者に怒鳴られるがままに、何度も謝り続けた。
The newcomer kept apologizing over and over while the person in charge shouted at him.
Analyze彼は世間の流れに流されるまま、自分で考えることをやめてしまった。
He simply went along with prevailing trends and stopped thinking for himself.
Analyze