Structure
Verb[た](1) + かと思ったら(2)
Noun + かと思ったら(2)
(1) Verb[る]
(2) かと思うと、かと思えば
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Standard
使用域
一般
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)'.
かと思うと and かと思ったら will regularly appear after verbs in either their dictionary or past-tense forms.
かと思うと and かと思ったら will regularly appear after verbs in either their dictionary or past-tense forms.
- 何を言い出すかと思ったら、みんなの前で俺の悪口を言い出した。Just when I thought of something to say, he started bad-mouthing me in front of everyone.
- 赤ちゃんが泣き止んだかと思ったら、また大声で泣き始めた。Just when I thought the baby had stopped crying, he started to cry loudly again.
- 娘が宿題を始めるのかと思うと、パソコンを開いてユーチューブを見始めた。Just when I thought my daughter was going to start doing her homework, she opened the computer and started watching YouTube.
- 子供が転んだかと思うと、立ち上がって走り出した。Just when I thought my kid fell down, she got up and started running.
- 田中さんは冷たい人かと思ったら、ただ人見知りなだけだった。No sooner than thinking that Tanaka-san is a cold person, I found out that he was just shy.
- 今日の試合が最後かと思うと、悲しくなる。Just when I remembered that today's game is the last one, I got sad.
Caution - Occasionally, か may be omitted from this phrase, leaving only と思うと and と思ったら. Although the meaning is exactly the same, omission of the か will make the expression sound softer.
- 新入社員が入ってきたと思ったら、次の日には仕事を辞めていた。Just when I thought a new employee had joined us, he had quit by the next day.
- 息子と息子の友達が喧嘩をしていると思うと、友達とゲラゲラ笑いながらゲームをしていた。Just when I thought that my son and his friend were fighting, I heard him giggling while playing video games with his friend.
Synonyms
なり
As soon as, The moment, When
Not studied yet
たとたんに
The instant or moment, As soon as, Just as
Not studied yet
か〜ないかのうちに
Right after, As soon as, Just when, Barely
Not studied yet
直ちに
At once, Immediately, As soon as
Not studied yet
と思いきや
Thought...but, When...thought that...but, Despite having thought...
Not studied yet
Examples
彼はあれだけ怒られて悲しんでいるかと思ったら、すぐに笑いだした。
Just when I thought that alone would make him so mad he would get sad, he started laughing.
喧嘩をしていた彼女は、機嫌がよくなったかと思ったらすぐに悪くなった。
Just when I thought that the fighting woman's mood had improved, it got worse.
仕事をし始めるかと思うと携帯電話を触り始めた。
No sooner than work began, he started using his cell phone.
ミスが続いたのであきれられたかと思ったら、そうでもなかった。
Just when I thought they would grow disgusted of their continued mistakes, they didn't.
飽くまで譲らないタイプの人かと思ったら、かなり柔軟な人でした。
Just when I thought he was the type of person who wouldn't surrender to the end, he turned out to be soft.
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~かと思うと・~かと思ったら・~と思うと・~と思ったら
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~かと思うと・~かと思ったら
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