Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 7: 2/21

かと思(おも)うとThen again, Just when I thought, No sooner than

Structure

Verb［た］(1) + かと思(おも)ったら(2)
［い］Adjective + かと思(おも)ったら(2)
［な］Adjective + かと思(おも)ったら(2)
Noun + かと思(おも)ったら(2)

(1) Verb［る］
(2) かと思(おも)うと、かと思(おも)えば

Details

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    Standard

About かと思ったら・かと思うと

When the adverbial particle か is combined with と, the う-Verb 思(おも)う, and either of the hypothetical markers たら or と, it forms a compound that is used to illustrate uncertainty about whether (A) has been finalized or not. In most cases, this translates as '(A), then again (B)', 'just when I thought (A), (B)', or 'no sooner than (A), (B)'. Literally, the meaning is close to 'before (A) could even be confirmed as having happened, (B)'.

かと思(おも)うと and かと思(おも)ったら will regularly appear after verbs in either their dictionary or past-tense forms.

Alternatively, this structure may also be seen following nouns, especially when the meaning is focused on the speaker's feelings about (A).

Either なの (or の when used with verbs) may appear between the target phrase and かと思(おも)ったら when the (B) phrase includes the speaker's feelings.

Caution

Occasionally, か may be omitted from this phrase, leaving only と思(おも)うと and と思(おも)ったら. Although the meaning is exactly the same, omission of the か will make the expression sound softer.

Related

Examples

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    ミスが続(つづ)いたのであきれられたかと思(おも)ったら、そうでもなかった。

    Just when I thought they would grow disgusted of their continued mistakes, they didn't.

    嫌(いや)がられるかと思(おも)ったら、あっさりＯＫ(オーケー)してくれた。

    Just when I thought they would hate it, they easily gave me the okay.

    暴(あば)れていたかと思(おも)ったら、やけに大人(おとな)しくなることもある。

    Just when I thought that they were throwing a tantrum, they become extremely docile.

    彼(かれ)はあれだけ怒(おこ)られて悲(かな)しんでいるかと思(おも)ったら、すぐに笑(わら)いだした。

    Just when I thought that he was sad because he got scolded, he started laughing.

    何(なに)を言(い)い出(だ)すかと思(おも)ったら、コンビ解散(かいさん)の話(はなし)だった。

    Just when I thought of something to say they were already talking about dissolving the duo.

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