Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 2: 6/17

なり
as soon as, the moment, when

Structure
Verb[る]+ なり
Details
Register Standard
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)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)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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Books
A Handbook of Japanese Grammar Patterns
Page 435