や否や
JLPT Level: N1
Meanings
As soon as
No sooner than
The moment
the instant
Usage
V dictionary form + や否や
Explanation
や否や marks that something happens immediately after another action, with a sense of the first event being instantly followed by the second. It is formal, literary, and often used in written narration or descriptive prose. It conveys a strong immediacy, similar to 'no sooner than' or 'the moment...'. It is typically attached to a verb in the dictionary form (non-past) and used to describe a rapid succession of events.
彼は扉を開けるや否や、中へ走り込んだ。
かれはとびらをあけるやいなや、なかへはしりこんだ。
No sooner had he opened the door than he rushed inside.
先生が黒板に字を描くや否や、学生たちはざわめいた。
せんせいがこくばんにじをえがくやいなや、がくせいたちはざわめいた。
No sooner had the teacher written on the board than the students started to chatter.
ドアが閉まるや否や、電話が鳴った。
ドアがしまるやいなや、でんわがなった。
The door closed, and no sooner had it done so than the phone rang.
彼女は家を出るや否や、雨が降り始めた。
かのじょはいえをでるやいなや、あめがふりはじめた。
As soon as she left the house, it started to rain.