How does this ように work?


> 今年も良い年でありますように！ I hope you have another good year!

What is going on exactly where the ように means hope? Does the よう derive from a
verb? I would also like to know how to describe this word in the relevant
grammatical terms, both in english and japanese. From what I understand from
the answers it is a noun that turns into an adverb?




## What it means

`ように` at the end of a sentence is a set expression for the volitional
subjunctive. In layman terms, it means the preceding sentence is a wish!

## Why it means that

`様{よう}` is ["a word that expresses the state of
things"](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/thsrs/13632/m0u/%E6%A7%98). `に` is a
target particle. Therefore, if it helps you understand, `ように` means "towards a
certain state". So when I say something like

> 明日{あした}は晴{は}れるように — May it be sunny tomorrow

I'm saying "towards the state of things where it's sunny". As happens
frequently in Japanese, I am omitting the verb of this sentence because it is
obvious in context.

> 明日{あした}は晴{は}れるように祈{いの}ります — I pray it may be sunny tomorrow

It expresses a yearning for a particular `様{よう}`.




## What it means

`ように` at the end of a sentence is a set expression for the volitional
subjunctive. In layman terms, it means the preceding sentence is a wish!

## Why it means that

`様{よう}` is ["a word that expresses the state of
things"](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/thsrs/13632/m0u/%E6%A7%98). `に` is a
target particle. Therefore, if it helps you understand, `ように` means "towards a
certain state". So when I say something like

> 明日{あした}は晴{は}れるように — May it be sunny tomorrow

I'm saying "towards the state of things where it's sunny". As happens
frequently in Japanese, I am omitting the verb of this sentence because it is
obvious in context.

> 明日{あした}は晴{は}れるように祈{いの}ります — I pray it may be sunny tomorrow

It expresses a yearning for a particular `様{よう}`.

