connective N1 uncommon writtenliterary
や否や — as soon as ~ / the instant that ~
や否や ・ やいなや
Meaning
- as soon as ~ / the instant that ~ — the second event follows immediately on the first
Key sentence
ベルが鳴るや否や、生徒たちは教室を飛び出した。
The instant the bell rang, the students dashed out of the classroom.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) | V-dict + や否や | 着く → 着くや否や |
When: Literary and written. Reports a real, completed sequence of events, typically in narration.
Examples
ドアを開けるや否や、冷たい風が吹き込んだ。
The moment I opened the door, a cold wind blew in.
その知らせを聞くや否や、彼は駆け出した。
As soon as he heard the news, he broke into a run.
新製品は発売されるや否や、売り切れた。
The new product sold out the instant it went on sale.
When you can't use it
- Describes an actual past event sequence, so it doesn't take a future, habitual, or volitional second clause (鳴るや否や、出よう is wrong). Use と or たら for habitual or hypothetical timing.
Easily confused with
〜なり Both 'as soon as'. なり emphasizes the same person's immediate, often surprising next action; や否や neutrally links two events in the tightest succession, even with different subjects. 途端(に) 途端に highlights a sudden change at the exact moment (座った途端に); や否や emphasizes how fast the second event follows the first. と同時に と同時に means the two happen 'at the same time' (simultaneously); や否や means one happens 'right after' the other (succession, not overlap).
See や否や in real sentences
Jengo shows や否や the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.