Explanation

Indicates a sudden or immediate change of action or situation. The verb before が早いか expresses the action or situation, while が早いか emphasizes the speed or immediacy of the change.

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Key Formation

• Verb + が早いか

  飛び出すが早いか (As soon as I jump out)

• Action/Situation + が早いか

  警報が鳴るが早いか (As soon as the alarm rings)

Example Sentences

• 電車に乗り込むが早いか、ドアが閉まった。

  As soon as I got on the train, the doors closed.

  でんしゃにのりこむがはやいか、どあがしまった。

  Densha ni norikomu ga hayai ka, doa ga shimatta.

  Pronunciation

• 彼女は見るが早いか、泣き出した。

  As soon as she saw it, she burst into tears.

  かのじょはみるがはやいか、なきだした。

  Kanojo wa miru ga hayai ka, nakidashita.

  Pronunciation

• 話し合いが始まるが早いか、彼はその場を立ち去った。

  As soon as the discussion started, he left the place.

  はなしあいがはじまるがはやいか、かれはそのばをたちさった。

  Hanashiai ga hajimaru ga hayai ka, kare wa sono ba o tachisatta.

  Pronunciation

• 彼は彼女に会うが早いか、プロポーズした。

  As soon as he met her, he proposed.

  かれはかのじょにあうがはやいか、ぷろぽーずした。

  Kare wa kanojo ni au ga hayai ka, puropo-zu shita.

  Pronunciation

• 試合が始まるが早いか、彼は3点を決めた。

  As soon as the game started, he scored 3 points.

  しあいがはじまるがはやいか、かれはさんてんをきめた。

  Shiai ga hajimaru ga hayai ka, kare wa santen o kimeta.

  Pronunciation

Usage Notes

Notes and Tips for JLPT students

Related Grammar, and what's the difference?

• や否や (ya ina ya) - (N1)
  - Both が早いか (ga hayai ka) and や否や (ya ina ya) indicate a sudden change, but が早いか (ga hayai ka) implies a more immediate and instantaneous change.
• 途端に (totan ni) - (N1)
  - While both が早いか (ga hayai ka) and 途端に (totan ni) express a sudden change, 途端に (totan ni) implies a change happening at the exact moment or instant something else occurs.
• 早速 (sassoku) - (N2)
  - 早速 (sassoku) also means 'immediately' or 'without delay,' but it is not used to indicate a sudden change like が早いか (ga hayai ka). Instead, 早速 (sassoku) is used to express promptness or quickness of an action.

Useful Vocabulary that appeared in this page

• * 電車 (でんしゃ)trainPronunciation
• * 乗り込む (のりこむ)get onPronunciation
• * ドア (どあ)doorPronunciation
• * 閉まる (しまる)closePronunciation
• * 彼女 (かのじょ)she/girlfriendPronunciation
• * 見る (みる)seePronunciation
• * 泣き出す (なきだす)burst into tearsPronunciation
• * 話し合い (はなしあい)discussionPronunciation
• * 始まる (はじまる)startPronunciation
• * 彼 (かれ)he/himPronunciation
• * 場 (ば)placePronunciation
• * 立ち去る (たちさる)leavePronunciation
• * 会う (あう)meetPronunciation
• * プロポーズ (ぷろぽーず)proposePronunciation
• * 試合 (しあい)game/matchPronunciation
• * 3点 (さんてん)3 pointsPronunciation
• * 決める (きめる)decide/scorePronunciation

Quiz

Choose the correct meaning of が早いか (ga hayai ka).

• As soon as
• Therefore
• On the contrary