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Formation: N + に沿って; N + に沿った + N; N + に沿い (formal); N + に沿う (as a predicate)

沿う means to follow something closely without straying from it. 〜に沿って has two uses: physical, for moving or lying along something long such as a river, road or coastline, and abstract, for acting in line with a plan, policy, guideline or someone's wishes. It is neutral to slightly formal and common in news, business and official writing. The polite set phrase ご期待に沿う (to live up to expectations) usually appears in the negative or potential: ご期待に沿えず申し訳ありません. Compare 〜に即して, which means strictly matching facts or the actual situation, and 〜に基づいて, which marks the basis that something rests on. 〜に沿って is looser: it means keeping to the line something sets out, without going off course.

Variants: に沿った、に沿い、に沿う、に沿えず

Examples

• 川に沿って、桜並木が二キロほど続いている。
  A row of cherry trees runs along the river for about two kilometres.
• 工事は当初の計画に沿って進められている。
  The construction work is proceeding in line with the original plan.
• 利用者の要望に沿ったサービスを提供したい。
  We want to offer a service that meets our users' wishes.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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