が早いか・や否や・なり・そばから: the difference
As soon as, No sooner than, The instant that, No sooner had
お母さんがケーキを焼き上げるが早いか、お父さんが食べ始めた。
As soon as mom had baked the cake, dad started eating it.
As soon as, No sooner than, The minute
教室に着くや否やランドセルを机に置いた。
I put my backpack on the desk as soon as I arrived at the classroom.
As soon as, The moment, When
Tested 3 times in past papers
父は出張から帰るなり、ソファーに倒れ込んだ。
The moment my father got back from his business trip, he collapsed onto the sofa.
As soon as, Right after, Even if … still
自転車は直したそばから壊れてしまう。
My bike breaks as soon as I repair it.
How to tell them apart
「が早いか」: the second act jumps in just as the first begins; very hurried.
「や否や」: the second follows in the instant the first finishes; more like objective reporting.
「なり」: the same third person does something, often unexpected, right after the first act.
「そばから」: the same bad cycle repeats, like forgetting as fast as you learn.
All about が早いか ›All about や否や ›All about なり ›All about そばから ›