や否や

やいなや

As soon as, No sooner than, The minute

俺おれの顔かおを見みるや否いなや友達ともだちの犬いぬが吠ほえ出だした。

As soon as he saw my face, my friend's dog started barking.

Explanation

「Vる＋や否や」 means 'the moment ...'. The first action has just happened and the next follows right away, with almost no gap: 「ベルが鳴るや否や、生徒たちは教室を飛び出した」 (The moment the bell rang, the students rushed out of the classroom). The second part describes something that actually happens (usually た form; a present-tense habit is also possible), never a wish, request or order like 「〜たい」 or 「〜てください」. It is rather formal and written. It can be shortened to 「見るや、走り出した」.

Mixed up with

「〜や否や」: formal, neutrally describes two events right after each other; the subject can be the same or different.

「〜なり」: usually the same person in both parts, and the second is often a surprising act.

「〜が早いか」: stresses rushing to act, e.g. first one out as soon as the bell rings.

「〜そばから」: the same thing happens again and again and the effort is wasted, e.g. cleaned and dirty again at once.

Easily confused withが早いか・や否や・なり・そばから: the difference ›

Examples

彼かれは席せきに座すわるや否いなや「とりあえず生なま一ひとつ」といった。
He said 'I'll have a beer to start' as soon as he sat down.
彼かれは本ほんを開ひらくや、眠ねむってしまった。
He fell asleep as soon as he opened the book.
教室きょうしつに着つくや否いなやランドセルを机つくえに置おいた。
I put my backpack on the desk as soon as I arrived at the classroom.
私わたしが部屋へやから出でてくるのを見みるや否いなや、空あき巣すが手てに持もっていたものを私わたしに投なげて、逃にげていった。
As soon as the burglar saw me coming out of the room, he threw everything that was in his hand at me and ran away.
１２時じを回まわるや否いなやすぐに誕生日たんじょうびのメッセージを送おくってくれたのは、お母かあさんだった。
The person who sent me a birthday message the minute it came around to midnight was my mother.
小説しょうせつ：「彼かれがあくびをするや否いなや彼女かのじょもあくびが出でてしまった。」
Novel: 'As soon as he yawned, she yawned too.'
記事きじ：「警察官けいさつかんに気きが付つくや否いなや急きゅうに走はしり出だした。」
Article: 'As soon as he noticed the policeman, he suddenly started to run.'
小説しょうせつ：「焼やき立たてのパンが皿さらに出でてくるや否いなやすぐに彼かれの口くちの中なかに消きえた。」
Novel: 'As soon as the freshly baked bread appeared on the plate, it immediately disappeared in his mouth.'
アイドルについての小説しょうせつ：「照橋てるはしさんがサングラスを外はずすや否いなや、あっという間まにファンが周まわりに集たかった。」
Novel about idols: 'As soon as Teruhashi-san took off the sunglasses, in the blink of an eye, she was surrounded by fans.'
彼女かのじょは給料きゅうりょうをもらうや否いなや金かねを全すべてビンテージのオランダの家具かぐなどに使つかってしまう。
As soon as she receives her salary, she spends all of it on Dutch vintage furniture.
私わたしはその子犬こいぬの顔かおを見みるや否いなや、この子こを絶対ぜったいに家いえに迎むかえると決心けっしんしました。
As soon as I saw that puppy’s face, I resolved to welcome him into our home no matter what.
仕事しごとが終おわり外そとに出でるや否いなや雨あめが降ふってきたので近ちかくの居酒屋いざかやで雨宿あまやどりをする事ことにした。
Since it started to rain as soon as I finished work and went outside, I decided to wait out the rain in a local izakaya.
小説しょうせつ：「その言葉ことばを聞きくや否いなや彼かれは部屋へやを飛とび出だし、分厚ぶあつい本ほんを何なん冊さつも抱かかえて戻もどってきた。」
Novel: 'As soon as he heard that word, he ran out of the room, and then returned carrying some massive tomes.'
我わが子この帰かえりを心配しんぱいしていたその父親ちちおやは、我わが子この顔かおを見みるや否いなやその場ばで倒たおれてしまった。
The father who was worrying about the return of their child collapsed in place no sooner than they saw that child’s face.
小説しょうせつ：「とっくの昔むかしに亡なくなっている友達ともだちからもらった、古ふるい手紙てがみを読よみ始はじめるや否いなや感情かんじょうがこみ上あげ、たちまち涙なみだが溢あふれてしまった。」
Novel: 'As soon as I started reading an old letter I received from a friend who was long gone, my feelings flooded and I suddenly dissolved into tears.'
最近さいきんはＳＮＳに情報じょうほうを上あげるや否いなや拡散かくさんされてしまうので、情報じょうほうを発信はっしんする前まえにもう一度いちどよく考かんがえる必要ひつようがあります。
Because information spreads as soon as you put it up on social media these days, you need to think twice before sharing it.
先輩せんぱい達たちが部室ぶしつに入はいってくるや否いなや先輩せんぱい達たちの顔色かおいろを伺うかがい始はじめないといけない部活ぶかつなんて、後輩こうはいにとっては居心地いごこちが悪わるいだろう。
Something like needing to read your senior’s mood as soon as they enter the clubroom is probably uncomfortable for juniors.
彼女かのじょはあの曲きょくを聴きくや、泣なき始はじめた。
She started to cry as soon as she listened to the song.