Meaning
It implies that as soon as one action happens, the next follows immediately, with no time in between.
〜するとすぐに①Expressions showing intention, commands, or negation cannot be used in the second clause.②It is a formal expression, often used in written language.③It can only be used to describe past events.。
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 動詞 | 動詞 （辞書形）+ がはやいか |
Examples
-
授業の終わりのチャイムが鳴るが早いか、生徒たちは運動場へボールを持って走っていった。
As soon as the bell rang to end the class, the students ran to the playground with the ball. -
電車のドアが開くが早いか、並んでいた人たちは中に乗り込んだ。
As soon as the doors of the train opened, the people in line got inside. -
警察に気がつくが早いか、その男はどこかへ向かって走り出した。
As soon as the man noticed the police, he started running. -
店が開くが早いか、開店前から並んでいたお客さんは我先にとセール品の方に向かって走っていった。
As soon as the store opened, the customers who had been waiting in line before the store opened rushed towards the sale items.
Summary
- 〜が早いか means "no sooner than"
- Formation: 動詞 → 動詞 （辞書形）+ がはやいか
- This is an N1-level grammar pattern