が早いか
Meanings
- As soon as
- No sooner than
- The instant that
- No sooner had (someone done)
About this pattern
Explanation
が早いか attaches to a verb in the plain form (dictionary form) or past plain form to express that the second clause happens immediately after or almost simultaneously with the action in the first clause. It has a dramatic, almost literary nuance, conveying a sense of surprise or quick succession. It is more common in written Japanese, news reports, or storytelling than in casual conversation. The subject of the second clause is usually the same as the speaker or a nearby actor, and the second action is immediate and often unexpected.
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Example sentences
The moment my friend arrived, the phone rang.
As soon as I opened the door, the cat dashed out.
No sooner had we heard the news than everyone was surprised.
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More N1 patterns
from ... to ...; from start to finish; up to and including
View detailsNo matter how ~, it won't change the outcome; Even if ~, the result is still unlikely; Even though ~, it doesn't matter; it's futile to ~
View detailslike; similar to; as if; the same as
View detailsto be worthy of; to be enough for; to be sufficient
View detailsextreme; extremely; unbearably; to an extreme degree
View detailsEven though; Even if; Although; Despite
View details