GRAMMAR DETAIL
や否や
Indicates that the second event happens abruptly at the very moment the first event occurs.
Examples
扉が開くや否や、待っていた客が中へ入った。
As soon as the doors opened, the waiting guests went inside.
Words used
先生が入るや否や、教室が静かになった。
As soon as the teacher entered, the classroom fell silent.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Follow a dictionary-form verb with
や否やto describe an abrupt, immediate sequence in a literary style. It is readやいなや. - Basic usage:
先生が入るや否や、教室が静かになった。means that the classroom fell silent as soon as the teacher entered.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Dictionary form before a past event
- In
入るや否や、静かになった, entering also occurred in the past, but the first form is入る. The construction emphasizes how closely the two events coincide.
- In