“〜ka 〜nai ka no uchi ni”: No Sooner Than, Almost Before [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「席に着くか着かないかのうちに話し始めた」 — almost simultaneous, with a surprising speed.
“〜ka 〜nai ka no uchi ni”: No Sooner Than, Almost Before
「(verb dict. form)か(same verb ない-form)ないかのうちに」 means “no sooner had 〜 than, almost before 〜 was done” — two events happen almost simultaneously: the first action is barely about to / hasn't yet completed, and the second immediately follows, stressing a surprising, startling speed. E.g. 「席に着くか着かないかのうちに、話し始めた」 (almost before sitting down, they started talking), 「子供はベッドに入るか入らないかのうちに、眠ってしまった」 (the child fell asleep almost the moment they got into bed). ⚠️ Structure: same verb 'dict. form か ＋ ない-form か' ＋ のうちに; the latter clause is usually in the past tense (describing the immediately-following event).
🧠 Core nuance: the first action is barely ending, and the second happens at once
The core is two actions happening almost simultaneously, in immediate succession: the first action is ‘barely … (dict. form か), not yet … (ない-form か)' — in the very instant ‘between done and not done' — and the second action immediately, right after happens, stressing an extremely short interval, swiftness, the unexpected (barely sat down then started talking, the phone barely rang then was hung up, barely got into bed then fell asleep). It vividly depicts the instant of ‘the moment …, immediately ….' ⚠️ Fixed structure: the same verb, dict. form か ＋ ない-form か ＋ のうちに (着くか着かないか, 入るか入らないか, 鳴るか鳴らないか); the latter clause is usually in the past tense (describing the immediately-occurred event: 話し始めた, 眠ってしまった). Near 「とたん (the instant), や否や (no sooner)」, but か〜ないかのうちに stresses ‘the first action has barely completed.'
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (dict. form)か(ない-form)かのうちに | almost before 〜 | 着くか着かないかのうちに |
| (same verb) | dict. form か ＋ ない-form か | 鳴るか鳴らないか |
| (latter clause) past tense | immediately follows | 〜のうちに、〜た |
💬 Example Sentences
- 彼は席に着くか着かないかのうちに、もう話し始めた。(He started talking almost before he'd sat down.) — swift
- 子供はベッドに入るか入らないかのうちに、眠ってしまった。(The child fell asleep almost the moment they got into bed.) — immediate
- 電話が鳴るか鳴らないかのうちに、彼は受話器を取った。(He picked up almost before the phone had rung.) — instant
- 「いただきます」と言うか言わないかのうちに、料理に手を伸ばした。(Almost before saying "itadakimasu," they reached for the food.) — almost simultaneous
- 試合が始まるか始まらないかのうちに、1点を取られた。(A goal was scored almost the moment the match began.) — surprisingly fast
🔄 Compare: か〜ないかのうちに vs とたん vs や否や vs なり
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜か〜ないかのうちに | “almost before 〜 (barely not yet) then” (stressing an extremely short interval) | 着くか着かないかのうちに |
| 〜とたん(に) | “the instant 〜” (suddenly) | ドアを開けたとたん |
| 〜や否や | “no sooner 〜 than” (written) | 顔を見るや否や |
| 〜なり | “the moment 〜” (written, followed by an unexpected action) | 立ち上がるなり |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Same verb: dict. form か ＋ the same verb's ない-form か (着くか着かないか, ✗ different verbs / ✗ 着いたか着くか).
- Latter clause in past tense: the latter clause is usually past (describing the immediately-occurred event).
- Connection: dict. form か ＋ ない-form か ＋ のうちに (鳴るか鳴らないかのうちに).
- Stresses an extremely short interval: it stresses the first action barely completing before the second happens (surprisingly fast).
💡 Nuance & When to Use
か〜ないかのうちに means “no sooner had 〜 than, almost before 〜 was done,” two actions happening almost simultaneously in immediate succession, the first barely about to / not yet complete, the second immediately following, stressing a startling speed (barely sat down then started talking, barely got into bed then fell asleep). Structure: same verb 'dict. form か ＋ ない-form か' ＋ のうちに, latter clause in past tense. Near the ‘immediately' とたん, や否や, なり, but more stresses ‘the first action has barely completed.' A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: (dict. form)か(ない-form)かのうちに = almost before 〜 then (stressing an extremely short interval, swift); latter clause past tense.
- Structure: same verb, dict. form か ＋ ない-form か ＋ のうちに (着くか着かないか).
- Distinction: か〜ないかのうちに (first action barely complete) vs とたん/や否や/なり (the moment …, immediately).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「子供はベッドに入る___入らない___、眠ってしまった。」（才剛上床就睡著）
(A) か、かのうちに (B) と、と (C) ば、ば (D) たら、たら
Q2. 「か〜ないかのうちに」の構造は?
(A) 同一動詞「辭書形か＋ない形かのうちに」 (B) 不同動詞 (C) て形＋か (D) た形＋か
Q3. 「席に着くか着かないかのうちに」の意味は?
(A) 才剛坐下(幾乎還沒坐穩)
(B) 坐了很久
(C) 沒坐下
(D) 站著
Q4. 後件の時制は?
(A) 過去式（描述緊接發生的事）
(B) 命令形
(C) 意志形
(D) 否定形
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 鳴るか鳴らないかのうちに切れた。 (B) 鳴ったか鳴るかのうちに。
(C) 鳴ってか鳴らないか。 (D) 鳴るからないかのうちに。
答案解析
1. (A) か、かのうちに ── 才剛上床就睡著(入るか入らないかのうちに)。
2. (A) ── 同一動詞辭書形か＋ない形かのうちに。
3. (A) ── 才剛坐下。
4. (A) ── 後件用過去式。
5. (A) ── 「鳴るか鳴らないかのうちに」正確。