Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 2: 6/17

なり
as soon as, the moment, when

Structure
Verb［る］+ なり
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Details
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使用域 一般
Information
  • [AなりB. As soon as A ended, B happened]
  • [B is often surprising/spontaneous and in the past tense]
  • [なり is generally used when speaking about others]
  • [Similar to verb[た] + とたん but uses verb[る]]
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踊（おど）りを止（や）めるなり、彼女（かのじょ）が急（きゅう）にキスしてくれたんだ。気持（きも）ちいい。
As soon as I stopped dancing, she suddenly kissed me. I feel great.
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    • 父（ちち）が出張（しゅっちょう）から帰（かえ）るなり母（はは）は泣（な）きだした。
    The moment father returned home from a business trip, mother started crying.
    ・verb[stem] + だす and verb[て] + しまう are often used in the following clause (B).
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    • 故郷（ふるさと）に帰（かえ）るなり灰燼（かいじん）に帰（かえ）した家（いえ）を見（み）て、驚（おどろ）き、悲（かな）しんだ。
    The moment I returned to my home town, I saw my house reduced to ashes. I was shocked and saddened.
    ・なり is very often used with words of movement and perception like 帰る、入る、見る、聞く、発見、etc.
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    Online
    とたん vs. なり
    HiNative
    Grammar notes and examples
    JLPT 先生
    Breakdown and examples
    JapaneseTest4You
    As soon as: ～や(いなや), ～なり, ～途端（に）, ～かと思うと, & ～次第
    Imabi
    Books
    A Handbook of Japanese Grammar Patterns
    Page 435
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