Meaning
This grammar pattern indicates that the time interval between two events is extremely short. It means "just as something was about to happen, right at that moment..." The event that follows 矢先に is usually something unexpected.
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) | 矢先に |
| Verb (た-form) | 矢先に |
| Noun | の + 矢先に |
Examples
-
寝ろうとした矢先に、外で消防車のサイレンの音が一斉に鳴ったからうるさくて眠れなくなった。
Just as I was about to go to sleep, fire truck sirens started blaring outside all at once, and it was so loud I couldn't fall asleep. -
会議を締めくくる一言を言おうとした矢先に、突然部長が決定事項を覆すような意見を言い出した。
Just as I was about to say the closing words for the meeting, the department manager suddenly voiced an opinion that overturned the decisions we had made. -
その会社の株を買おうとした矢先に、倒産のニュースが飛び込んできた。
Just as I was about to buy that company's stock, news of its bankruptcy came in.
Summary
- 「〜矢先に」 means "just as ..., right when ..."
- Attaches to Verb (dictionary form), Verb (た-form), or Noun