Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 4: 10/18

か〜ないかの内(うち)に

Right after, As soon as, Just when, Barely

Structure

Verb［る］+ か + Verb ない(*) + かのうちに

(*) The same Verb has to be repeated

Details

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    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

About か〜ないかのうちに

か～ないかのうちに is a slightly formal grammar structure used in Japanese to indicate a precise point in time where the action of (A) can not be determined as either being started, or finished. Usually, it highlights the exact moment either before or after (A) commences. This grammar structure is comprised of か, ない, か, の, the noun 内(うち) 'within', and に. Literally, it just means 'while not knowing whether (A) or not (A), (B)'.
The verb that appears before か and ないか must be repeated in this grammar pattern, and may be used in its dictionary form. Standard translations include 'right after (A)', 'as soon as (A)', and 'barely when (A)'.
  • 父(ちち)はビールを飲(の)み終(お)わるか飲(の)み終(お)わらないかのうちに、新(あたら)しい缶(かん)を開(あ)けた。
    My father opened a new can of beer as soon as he finished his beer.
  • 彼(かれ)は椅子(いす)に座(すわ)るか座(すわ)らないかのうちに、テレビをつけた。
    He turned his TV on just as he sat down.
  • 彼女(かのじょ)は車(くるま)が止(と)まるか止(と)まらないかのうちに、ドアを開(あ)けて駅(えき)へと走(はし)っていった。
    Just as the car stopped, she opened the door and ran to the station.
Additionally, か～ないかのうちに may be used to highlight relatively short periods of time within which something happens. This is usually in regard to some sort of positive or negative occurrence that would not usually be expected to be able to happen so quickly.
  • 就活(しゅうかつ)を初(はじ)めて１週間(しゅうかん)経(た)つか経(た)たないかのうちに、仕事(しごと)が見(み)つかった。
    In just a week of looking for a new job, I found a job.
  • 戦争(せんそう)が終(お)わるか終(お)わらないかのうちに、原爆(げんばつ)が落(お)とされた。
    An atomic bomb was dropped, just when the war was about to end.

Examples

  • 車(くるま)を洗(あら)いきるか洗(あら)いきらないかのうちに雨(あめ)が降(ふ)り出(だ)したんだ。とてもイライラしたよ。

    Right after I washed my car, it started raining. I was so frustrated.

  • いつも、家(いえ)の戸(と)を開(あ)けるか開(あ)けないかのうちにうちの犬(いぬ)が家(いえ)から飛(と)び出(だ)して顔(かお)をなめる。

    As soon as I open the door our dog always jumps out and licks my face.

  • 現代(げんだい)人(じん)って目(め)を覚(さ)ますか目(め)を覚(さ)まさないかのうちに、スマホをとってネットサーフィンする。

    These days, people take out their smartphones and surf the web as soon as they wake up.

  • 焦(こ)がすか焦(こ)がさないかのうちに、肉(にく)を取(と)るのが僕(ぼく)の流儀(りゅうぎ)。

    My style is to take off the meat just when it starts to burn.

  • 御馳走(ごちそう)をいただくかいただかないかのうちに、帰(かえ)る時間(じかん)になってしまった。

    Just when I was going to be treated, I had to go home (had to pay my own way).

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か〜ないかのうちに – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

  • MZa

    MZa

    Hi.
    In the following example sentence 彼女かのじょは車くるまが止とまるか止とまらないかのうちに、ドアを開あけて駅えきへと走はしっていった。I don’t understand why there is a とin 駅へと.

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    へと is similar to へ by itself, but emphasises a bit more that it’s about a direction.

  • MZa

    MZa

    Ok thank you. I may have never encountered this particles’ combination or it’s the first time I noticed it.

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