〜が早いか
ga hayaika
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
as soon as …; no sooner … than …
〜が早いか means "the instant X happened, Y happened": ベルが鳴るが早いか、教室を飛び出した. Literally "which was earlier, X or Y?", i.e. they were almost simultaneous. Y is a quick, deliberate action, usually by the same person, in the past.
Formal written Japanese: narrative, news, sports reporting. It creates a vivid image of someone acting the instant something happens. Y cannot be a command, intention or natural phenomenon; it is an action someone takes.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Vる / Vた + が早いか、VたY = a quick deliberate action (飛び出す・駆けつける・食べ始める)Same subject in both clauses is typical
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Form | Y clause | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜が早いか | Vる/Vた + が早いか | quick deliberate action | almost simultaneous |
| 〜や否や | Vる + や否や | any sudden event | no gap at all |
| 〜なり | Vる + なり | unexpected action, same subject | immediately |
| 〜たとたん(に) | Vた + とたん | surprising result | neutral register |
Natural examples
彼はベルが鳴るが早いか、教室を飛び出した。
かれはベルがなるがはやいか、きょうしつをとびだした。
No sooner had the bell rung than he dashed out of the classroom.
The bell rings, he dashes out: a quick deliberate action.
横になるが早いか、いびきをかき始めた。
よこになるがはやいか、いびきをかきはじめた。
The moment he lay down, he started snoring.
Lying down and snoring: a rapid sequence.
その知らせを聞くが早いか、母は病院へ駆けつけた。
そのしらせをきくがはやいか、はははびょういんへかけつけた。
As soon as she heard the news, my mother rushed to the hospital.
Hearing the news, the mother rushes: 駆けつけた.
彼は席に着くが早いか、弁当を食べ始めた。
かれはせきにつくがはやいか、べんとうをたべはじめた。
The moment he sat down, he started eating his lunch.
Same subject, quick action.
開店のドアが開いたが早いか、客たちは売り場へ走った。
かいてんのドアがひらいたがはやいか、きゃくたちはうりばへはしった。
The instant the shop door opened, the customers ran to the sales floor.
Vた + が早いか is also possible.
Similar grammar and the difference
Almost the same timing, but Y can be any sudden event, including reactions and natural results. Compare side by side
Same subject and an unexpected action; slightly more narrative. Compare side by side
A repeated pattern ("no sooner … than" again and again), not a single event. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- ベルが鳴るが早いか、教室を出なさい。
- ✓
- ベルが鳴ったらすぐ、教室を出なさい。
- Why
- Y cannot be a command.
- ✗
- 雨が降るが早いか、道が濡れた。
- ✓
- 雨が降るや否や、道が濡れた。
- Why
- A natural result is not a deliberate action; use や否や or とたん.
- ✗
- 鳴ったの早いか
- ✓
- 鳴ったが早いか
- Why
- The particle is が.
Y is typically energetic: 飛び出す・駆け出す・飛びつく・食べ始める. Both the dictionary form and the past form are accepted before が早いか. It is a set phrase; 早い does not change form.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- A trigger verb + blank + a quick deliberate past action → が早いか.
- If the second clause is a reaction or event rather than a deliberate action, や否や or とたん is more likely.
- Eliminate options if Y is a command, intention or conjecture.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜が早いか mean?
as soon as …; no sooner … than …. 〜が早いか means "the instant X happened, Y happened": ベルが鳴るが早いか、教室を飛び出した. Literally "which was earlier, X or Y?", i.e. they were almost simultaneous. Y is a quick, deliberate action, usually by the same person, in the past.
How do you form 〜が早いか?
Vる / Vた + が早いか、Vた / Y = a quick deliberate action (飛び出す・駆けつける・食べ始める) / Same subject in both clauses is typical. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜が早いか used?
Formal written Japanese: narrative, news, sports reporting. It creates a vivid image of someone acting the instant something happens. Y cannot be a command, intention or natural phenomenon; it is an action someone takes.
What is the difference between 〜が早いか and 〜や否や?
Almost the same timing, but Y can be any sudden event, including reactions and natural results.
What is the difference between 〜が早いか and 〜なり?
Same subject and an unexpected action; slightly more narrative.
What is a common mistake with 〜が早いか?
Wrong: ベルが鳴るが早いか、教室を出なさい。 Right: ベルが鳴ったらすぐ、教室を出なさい。 Y cannot be a command.
Quick check
彼は終業のチャイムが鳴る（ ）、会社を飛び出した。