Great! Here’s your next long-form article in the JLPT N1 grammar series. This time, we’ll cover the expression:
【JLPT N1 Grammar Point4】
As you prepare for JLPT N1, one key skill is mastering grammar that expresses precise timing and immediate reactions. Today’s expression, ～が早いか, is a formal and literary way to describe two actions happening in rapid succession, almost simultaneously.
🌟 ～が早いか
Meaning: As soon as… / The moment… / No sooner had… than…
Usage: Expresses that one action happened immediately after another, often with surprising or intense speed.
🔧 Grammar Structure
[Verb (dictionary form)] + が早いか + [immediate second action]
💡 The subject is usually the same for both actions.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| 彼は教室に入るが早いか、席に座った。 | (The moment he entered the classroom, he sat down.) |
| ベルが鳴るが早いか、生徒たちは教室を飛び出した。 | (No sooner had the bell rung than the students dashed out.) |
✅ Example Sentences
1. 先生が質問をするが早いか、彼は手を挙げた。
(The teacher barely finished asking the question when he raised his hand.)
▶ Very fast response — emphasizes timing.
2. 空港に着くが早いか、彼はタクシーに乗り込んだ。
(The moment he arrived at the airport, he jumped into a taxi.)
▶ Immediate transition from one action to another.
3. ドアを開けるが早いか、猫が飛び出した。
(As soon as the door opened, the cat darted out.)
▶ Perfect for surprising or sudden actions.
4. その知らせを聞くが早いか、彼は会社に電話をかけた。
(The moment he heard the news, he called the office.)
▶ Shows an instant emotional reaction to new information.
⚠️ Important Notes
- Often used in narrative writing or descriptive accounts, not in casual speech.
- Common in novels and news reports to show fast or reflexive action.
- Typically used when something surprising, emotional, or dramatic happens instantly.
🧠 Similar Grammar Expressions
1. ～や否や（やいなや）
Also means “as soon as,” but is slightly more formal and literary.
彼が帰るや否や、電話が鳴った。
(Just as he got home, the phone rang.)
2. ～とたん（に）
Expresses sudden change or reaction.
外に出たとたんに、雨が降り始めた。
(The moment I stepped outside, it started raining.)
💡 ～とたんに is more common in spoken Japanese, while ～が早いか is more formal and elegant.
✍️ Practice Challenge
Translate these into Japanese using ～が早いか:
- As soon as the child saw the candy, he reached for it.
- No sooner had the movie started than the audience fell silent.
- She finished the call and rushed out of the room immediately.
🧠 (Answers at the bottom!)
✨ Common Verbs Paired with ～が早いか
| First Verb | Second Verb |
|---|---|
| 開ける (to open) | 飛び出す (to rush out) |
| 入る (to enter) | 座る (to sit down) |
| 見る (to see) | 走る (to run) |
| 聞く (to hear) | 電話をかける (to make a call) |
This grammar typically involves immediate physical movement or reactions, so choose action verbs.
🗣 Real-Life Usage Tip
Although you may not hear this often in conversation, using it in essays, speeches, or writing tasks (like the JLPT writing section or university exams) will impress native readers and show your advanced grammar control.
Try a sentence like this in a story or blog:
ケーキが出されるが早いか、彼女はフォークを手に取った。
(The moment the cake was served, she grabbed her fork.)
🏁 Summary
| Grammar Point | ～が早いか |
|---|---|
| Meaning | As soon as… / No sooner than… |
| Usage | Describes immediate succession of actions |
| Tone | Formal, literary, descriptive |
| Similar | ～や否や, ～とたんに |
✅ Practice Answers
- 子供はお菓子を見るが早いか、手を伸ばした。
- 映画が始まるが早いか、観客は静かになった。
- 電話を切るが早いか、彼女は部屋を飛び出した。
📘 Coming Next: ～にたえない – Expressing deep emotional intensity and unbearable feelings. Perfect for essays, heartfelt writing, and speeches.
