や否や
🃏 Flashcard
や否や
ya ina ya
Tap to reveal usage
as soon as; the moment ~
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
ya ina ya
Post ID
51428
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
as soon as; the moment ~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that the second action or event occurs immediately after the first, often with a sense of surprise or rapid succession.
Attaches to
Attach to the dictionary (plain, non-past) form of a verb.
This is a formal, literary pattern meaning 'as soon as' or 'the moment'. It emphasizes that the second action happens right after the first, often so quickly that it feels abrupt or unexpected. It is commonly used in written narratives, news reports, or formal speeches, and is rarely used in casual conversation. The pattern is marked by its strong sense of immediacy and often carries a nuance of 'no sooner... than' or 'had just... when'.
彼は部屋に入るや否や、大きなため息をついた。
Kare wa heya ni hairu ya ina ya, ookina tameiki o tsuita.
No sooner had he entered the room than he let out a big sigh.
終業のベルが鳴るや否や、彼女は席を立って外へ出た。
Shugyou no beru ga naru ya ina ya, kanojo wa seki o tatte soto e deta.
The moment the end-of-work bell rang, she got up from her seat and went outside.
彼女はその知らせを聞くや否や、涙を流し始めた。
Kanojo wa sono shirase o kiku ya ina ya, namida o nagashi hajimeta.
As soon as she heard the news, she began to cry.
Not 〜そばから or 〜とたんに
〜そばから implies a repeated or habitual action that is immediately undone or repeated, whereas や否や is for a single event. 〜とたんに is more casual and often used in spoken Japanese, while や否や is formal and literary.
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Formal and literary; used mainly in written language such as novels, reports, or formal speeches, and rarely in everyday conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
や否や
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat や否や 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 や否や. 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
← Previous
わ〜わで
and (list neg. things happening at same time)
Next →
やしない
should do, but don't; there's no way ~
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern や否や mean?
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As soon as; the moment ~
What JLPT level is や否や?
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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 や否や in a sentence?
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Attach や否や (ya ina ya) 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 や否や formal or casual Japanese?
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や否や 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 や否や 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.