JLPT N1 grammar

〜が早いかmeaning and usage

Meaning

As soon as A occurred; right after A

How to form it

  • verb (dictionary form)が早いか
  • verb (ta-form)が早いか

How it is used

B happens the instant A does, often surprisingly fast. Mostly in written narration of past events; B is not the speaker's intention, an order or a request. Close to 「や否や」 and 「なり」.

Examples

  1. 私が帰宅するが早いか、お風呂に入りました。

    No sooner had I returned home than I got in the bath.

  2. 彼は電話を切るが早いか、上着をつかんで部屋を出ていった。

    No sooner had he hung up than he grabbed his jacket and left the room.

  3. 新しいゲームが発売されるが早いか、店の前に長い列ができた。

    No sooner had the new game gone on sale than a long queue formed outside the shop.