Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 9: 11/20

が早(はや)いか
As soon as, No sooner than, The instant that, No sooner had

While it can be used with the past form, non-past is more common.

Structure
Verb[る](1) + が早いか + Phrase[た]

(1) Verb[た]
Details
Register Formal
使用域 硬い
Information
  • (A) が早いか (B) is a formal written expression that is not often used in speech, meaning that as soon as (A) happens, (B). In other words, (B) happens directly after (A).
  • (B) is often surprising, spontaneous, or habitual and usually expresses someone’s actions (行く、駆け出す). Due to this, it is uncommon with expressions that are beyond human control, like 雨が降った.
  • The following phrase is always in the past tense, so it cannot be used to express future intentions with volitional form or expressions like つもり.
  • It is also not used when talking about speaker/writer, however, the subjects of (A) and (B) might differ.
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お母(かあ)さんケーキを焼(や)き上(あ)げる早(はや)いお父(とう)さんが食(た)べ始(はじ)めた。
As soon as mom had baked the cake, dad started eating it.
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黒(くろ)ずくめの男(おとこ)は探偵(たんてい)を見(み)つけた早(はや)い、疾風(しっぷう)のごとく駆(か)け出(だ)した。
As soon as the man dressed completely in black noticed the detective, he dashed off like the wind.
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夜(よる)、幼(おさな)い魔法使(まほうつか)いが窓(まど)開(あ)ける早(はや)い白(しろ)フクロウが飛(と)び込(こ)んできた。
At night, as soon as the young wizard opened the window, a white owl flew in.
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