“〜ga hayai ka”: As Soon As 〜 (immediately upon the action) [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Taking the next action the instant the previous one is completed
“〜ga hayai ka”: As Soon As 〜 (the instant the action happens)
「verb dictionary form ＋ が早いか」 means “the instant the first action happens, the next is done (almost simultaneously)” — “as soon as 〜, immediately…” E.g. 「子供は母親の顔を見るが早いか、泣き出した」 (the moment the child saw its mother's face, it burst into tears). It stresses that two actions are back-to-back, almost simultaneous, with the latter usually a swift, sudden action.
🧠 Core nuance: barely moved, and the next follows — almost simultaneous
The core is immediacy/speed: the moment the first action occurs, the latter follows instantly, with no gap, as if at once. が早いか literally is “which is faster” — extended to “the first has barely…, and the latter already….” It carries a sense of surprise at the speed, depicting swift reactions or actions, common in narration and reporting.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb dict. ＋ が早いか | dict. form ＋ が早いか | 見るが早いか |
| latter part | a swift (past) action | 〜が早いか、飛び出した |
| (note) no command/negative after | — | — |
💬 Example Sentences
- 子供は母親の顔を見るが早いか、泣き出した。(The moment the child saw its mother, it burst into tears.) — swift reaction
- ベルが鳴るが早いか、生徒たちは教室を飛び出した。(The instant the bell rang, the students dashed out.) — back-to-back
- 彼は席に着くが早いか、料理を食べ始めた。(He started eating the moment he sat down.) — immediately
- 家に着くが早いか、ソファで寝てしまった。(The moment I got home, I fell asleep on the sofa.) — at once
- ドアを開けるが早いか、猫が飛び出してきた。(No sooner did I open the door than the cat shot out.) — simultaneous
🔄 Compare: が早いか vs や否や vs とたんに vs なり
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜が早いか | “as soon as 〜” (back-to-back, stresses speed) | 見るが早いか泣いた |
| 〜や否や | “as soon as 〜” (almost simultaneous, written) | 着くや否や倒れた |
| 〜たとたんに | “the instant 〜” (a moment) | 開けたとたんに落ちた |
| 〜なり | “as soon as 〜 (immediately)” (literary) | 座るなり寝た |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Attaching た/て-form: ✗ 着いたが早いか／着いてが早いか → ✓ 着くが早いか (dictionary form).
- Following it with command/negative/volition: が早いか is followed by a swift action that already happened (past), not a command, negative, or volition.
- Back-to-back actions of the same subject: it usually depicts the same subject's (or related) immediate actions.
- Misreading as “comparing speed”: it means “as soon as…, immediately…,” not literally comparing which is faster.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
が早いか expresses “as soon as 〜, immediately…,” stressing that two actions are back-to-back, almost simultaneous, with a sense of surprise at the speed: cried the moment she saw, dashed out the instant the bell rang. It leans written and narrative, common in novels and reporting for swift reactions or actions. It belongs to the “as soon as…” family with や否や・なり・とたんに. It's followed only by a swift action that already happened. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: verb dictionary form ＋ が早いか = as soon as 〜.
- Connection: dictionary form (not た); followed by a past swift action.
- Restriction: no command/negative/volition in the latter; synonyms や否や・なり.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「子供は母親の顔を見る___、泣き出した。」（一看到就立刻哭）
(A) が早いか (B) が遅いか (C) からして (D) どころか
Q2. 「が早いか」の前に来る動詞の形は?
(A) 辭書形 (B) た形 (C) ない形 (D) て形
Q3. 「ベルが鳴るが早いか飛び出した」の意味は?
(A) 鈴聲一響就立刻衝出去
(B) 鈴聲響後很久才出去
(C) 沒聽到鈴聲
(D) 鈴聲沒響
Q4. 「が早いか」の後件として不適切なのは?
(A) 命令／否定（不可接）
(B) 迅速的過去動作
(C) 緊接發生的動作
(D) 出乎意料的快動作
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 着くが早いか、寝てしまった。 (B) 着いたが早いか。
(C) 着くが早いか、寝なさい(命令)。 (D) 着いてが早いか。
答案解析
1. (A) が早いか ── 一看到就立刻哭。
2. (A) 辭書形 ── 辭書形＋が早いか。
3. (A) ── 鈴聲一響就立刻衝出。
4. (A) ── 後件不接命令/否定。
5. (A) ── 「着くが早いか、寝てしまった」正確。