〜や否や
Scarcely when 〜や否や
Meaning
"As soon as ~", "scarcely had ~ when ..." — the two events are almost simultaneous.
Formation
[verb dictionary form] + や否や （〜や also occurs alone）
Notes
Literary; close to 〜が早いか but slightly wider, since the second event may be an unexpected happening rather than a deliberate action. Past tense only.
Examples
知（し）らせを聞（き）くや否（いな）や、彼（かれ）は家（いえ）を出（で）ました。
Scarcely had he heard the news when he left the house.
Breakdown
発売（はつばい）されるや否（いな）や、売り切（うりき）れました。
It sold out as soon as it went on sale.
Breakdown
姿（すがた）を見（み）るや否（いな）や、犬（いぬ）は駆け寄（かけよ）ってきました。
The moment it saw me, the dog came running over.
Breakdown
会議（かいぎ）が終（お）わるや否（いな）や、彼（かれ）は席（せき）を立（た）ちました。
The meeting had scarcely ended when he got up from his seat.
Breakdown
報道（ほうどう）されるや否（いな）や、問い合（といあ）わせが殺到（さっとう）しました。
No sooner was it reported than enquiries flooded in.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜た後で / 〜後
After doing 〜後で
"After doing ~". Attach to the ta-form of a verb, or a noun + の. Note the contrast with...
〜てから
After doing (and then) 〜てから
"After doing ~ (and only then ~)". Emphasizes that action B happens AFTER action A is comp...
〜前に
Before doing 〜前に
"Before doing ~". Attach to the dictionary form of a verb or a noun + の. The action AFTER...
〜たとたん（に）
The moment 〜たとたん
"The moment ~", "just as ~" — the second event follows instantly and unexpectedly.
〜次第
As soon as 〜次第
"As soon as ~", "the moment ~ is done". Formal, and always about the future.
〜以来
Ever since 〜以来
"Ever since ~" — a state that has held continuously from a past point until now.
〜たびに
Every time 〜たびに
"Every time ~", "whenever ~" — the second thing happens on each occasion of the first.
〜ぶり
After an interval 〜ぶり
"After an interval of ~" — how long it has been since this last happened.
〜かと思うと
No sooner than 〜かと思うと
"No sooner had ~ than ~", "just when you think ~" — two events tread on each other.
〜上で
After (formal) 〜上で
"After ~ing (and on that basis)" — a deliberate step taken before deciding.
〜ところに / 〜ところへ
Just as / right when 〜ところに
"Just as ~", "right when ~" — something arrives at exactly that moment.
〜際（に）
On the occasion of 〜際（に）
A formal "when ~", "on the occasion of ~".
〜てはじめて
Only after 〜てはじめて
"Only after ~", "not until ~ did I …".
〜てからというもの
Ever since then 〜てからというもの
"Ever since ~" — a turning point after which things have stayed changed.
〜に先立って
Prior to 〜に先立って
"Prior to ~", "in advance of ~" — a preliminary step before a major event.
〜に際して
At the time of 〜に際して
Formal "on the occasion of ~", "at the time of ~" — used as something significant begins.
〜が早いか
The instant that 〜が早いか
"The instant ~ happened, ...", "no sooner ~ than ...".
〜そばから
No sooner done than undone 〜そばから
"No sooner is ~ done than (it is undone)" — the effort is immediately cancelled out.
〜なり
Immediately upon 〜なり
"The moment ~", "immediately upon ~ing" — one action leads straight into an unexpected nex...
〜を境に
Marking the turning point 〜を境に
"With ~ as the dividing line", "ever since ~" — a clear before and after.
〜がてら
While also doing 〜がてら
"While ~ing", "taking the opportunity of ~ing to also ..." — two purposes in one outing.
〜間際に
On the verge of 〜間際に
"Just as ~ is about to happen", "at the very last moment before ~".