N1 — Instant switches & triggers

〜が早いか / 〜や否や (やいなや) / 〜そばから / 〜てからというもの / 〜た弾みに・〜た拍子に

immediate switch accidental trigger since-then state

How to choose by scene

Use 〜が早いか / 〜や否や for “the moment A, B”. 〜そばから for “no sooner A than (again)”. 〜てからというもの for a lasting change since A. 〜た弾みに・〜た拍子に for an unintended result triggered by a motion.

瞬時: “the instant …”
narrative, formal-ish
→ 〜が早いか
Open details
Form: V-dict + が早いか
Use when: nearly simultaneous switch from A to B.
Note: written/storytelling tone; avoid commands/requests after it.
瞬時: literary “as soon as”
very formal / headlines
→ 〜や否や
Open details
Form: V-dict + や否や（やいなや）
Use when: formal, instantaneous sequence; often event reporting.
Contrast: ≈ 〜が早いか but more literary.
again right after
frustrating repetition
→ 〜そばから
Open details
Form: V-dict + そばから
Use when: A happens, and B (often the opposite/unwanted) happens right away, repeatedly.
Hint: often used with things that are hard to maintain (tidy room, memory, etc.).
since then (lasting)
state continues from A
→ 〜てからというもの
Open details
Form: V-て + からというもの
Use when: a change at A leads to an ongoing state up to now.
Note: often with negative tendency or “never since …”.
by the very motion
unintended side effect
→ 〜た弾みに・〜た拍子に
Open details
Form: V-た + 弾みに／拍子に
Use when: an action/motion triggers an accidental result.
Note: result is often unexpected/undesirable.

1) 〜が早いか — “the instant …” (near-simultaneous)

Use to narrate an immediate switch from A to B. Formal/storytelling flavor. Avoid requests/commands after it.

Form: V-dict + が早いか

チャイムが 鳴なるが早いか、学生がくせいたちは 教室きょうしつを 飛とび出だした。

The moment the bell rang, the students dashed out of the classroom.

彼かれが 席せきを 立たつが早いか、会議かいぎはざわついた。

No sooner had he stood up than the meeting grew restless.

2) 〜や否や — literary “as soon as”

Very formal/literary. Often used in reports and headlines. Like 〜が早いか, it describes an immediate following action.

Form: V-dict + や否いなや（やいなや）

彼かれはドアを 開あけるや否いなや、部屋へやに 駆かけ込こんだ。

As soon as he opened the door, he rushed into the room.

駅えきに 着つくや否いなや、雨あめが 降ふり出だした。

The moment we arrived at the station, it started to rain.

3) 〜そばから — “no sooner A than (again)”

A happens and immediately B happens (again), often the opposite of what you want. Expresses frustration with repetition.

Form: V-dict + そばから

覚おぼえたそばから 忘わすれる。

I forget it as soon as I learn it.

片付かたづけるそばから、子供こどもが 散ちらかす。

No sooner do I tidy up than the kids mess it up again.

4) 〜てからというもの — “ever since … (lasting state)”

Since A happened, a state has continued up to now. Often with negative tendency or strong change.

Form: V-て + からというもの

留学りゅうがくしてからというもの、毎日まいにちが 挑戦ちょうせんだ。

Ever since studying abroad, every day has been a challenge.

彼女かのじょが 転職てんしょくしてからというもの、夜型よるがたに 変かわった。

Ever since she changed jobs, she has become a night owl.

5) 〜た弾みに・〜た拍子に — “in/at the very motion …” (unintended result)

An action or body motion at A unintentionally triggers B. The outcome is often negative or unexpected.

Form: V-た + 弾はずみに／拍子ひょうしに

立たち上あがった 弾はずみに、コーヒーをこぼした。

As I stood up, I accidentally spilled my coffee.

電車でんしゃが 揺ゆれた 拍子ひょうしに、財布さいふを 落おとした。

When the train jolted, I dropped my wallet.

Quick contrasts & pitfalls

  • が早いか vs や否や：both “as soon as”. や否や is more literary. Avoid volition/imperatives right after either.
  • そばから：repetition with frustration (A → B again). Often pairs with things that revert easily (tidiness, memory, updates).
  • てからというもの：lasting state since A. Natural with “ずっと〜ない／〜し続けている”. Not for single, one-off events.
  • た弾みに／た拍子に：triggered by motion; unintended result. Often negative. Don’t use when the result is a deliberate act.
カテゴリー
N1 Grammar
前の記事
JLPT N3 Reading — Set 1
2025年10月9日
次の記事
N1 — Severe outcomes & no exceptions
2025年10月9日