が早いか
🃏 Flashcard
が早いか
ga hayai ka
Tap to reveal usage
no sooner than; as soon as ~
N1
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
ga hayai ka
Post ID
51216
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
no sooner than; as soon as ~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that one action happens immediately after another, often with a sense of urgency or surprise.
Attaches to
Attaches to the dictionary form of a verb, or to the ます-stem of a verb (e.g., 言うが早いか, 言いが早いか).
This pattern describes two events occurring in immediate succession, often with the second event happening so quickly it seems almost simultaneous with the first. It carries a sense of 'no sooner... than...' and is often used to highlight a swift, sometimes surprising, reaction. The subject of the second clause is often the same as the first, but can differ. It is more common in written narrative or formal speech than in casual conversation.
彼は家に着くが早いか、シャワーも浴びずにベッドに倒れ込んだ。
Kare wa ie ni tsuku ga hayai ka, shawaa mo abizu ni beddo ni taorekonda.
No sooner had he arrived home than he collapsed onto the bed without even taking a shower.
その知らせを聞くが早いか、彼女はその場で泣き出した。
Sono shirase o kiku ga hayai ka, kanojo wa sono ba de nakidashita.
The moment she heard the news, she burst into tears right there.
ベルが鳴るが早いか、生徒たちは教室を飛び出していった。
Beru ga naru ga hayai ka, seito-tachi wa kyoushitsu o tobidashite itta.
No sooner had the bell rung than the students rushed out of the classroom.
Not や否や (ya ina ya)
Both mean 'as soon as' and are formal/written, but が早いか often implies a quick, sometimes surprising reaction, while や否や is more neutral and focuses on the immediate sequence. Also, が早いか can attach to the ます-stem, but や否や only attaches to the dictionary form.
Register
Formal and primarily used in written narrative or formal speech; it sounds bookish in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
が早いか
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat が早いか three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using が早いか. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern が早いか mean?
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No sooner than; as soon as ~
What JLPT level is が早いか?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use が早いか in a sentence?
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Attach が早いか (ga hayai ka) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is が早いか formal or casual Japanese?
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が早いか is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember が早いか long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.