As soon as A occurred; right after A
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私が帰宅するが早いか、お風呂に入りました。
No sooner had I returned home than I got in the bath.
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彼女にメールするが早いか、彼女から電話が掛かってきた。
Right after I emailed her, I got a call from her.
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
ベルが鳴るが早いか (as soon as the bell rings)
Related Expressions
たとたん
なり
や、やいなや
なり
や、やいなや
Where this grammar is found
User notes
emmy
Level: 3
(12 years ago)
が早いか is similar to や否や but can take 辞書形 as well as past simple whereas や否や can only take 辞書形. Also や否や implies a shorter time interval or even "simultaneously" than 早いか. There's also a slight difference in the following action. 新完全マスター says that after が早いか comes 少し意外感がある事実を表す文 and after や否や comes 事実を表す文.
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