“〜ya inaya”: The Moment 〜, Immediately 〜 (Instantaneous Sequence) [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Master the immediacy of 「〜やいなや」 to elevate your Japanese.
“〜ya inaya”: The Moment 〜, Immediately 〜 (Instantaneous Sequence)
「〜やいなや」 expresses ‘the moment 〜, immediately 〜; no sooner 〜 than 〜' — the latter occurs almost simultaneously with (or right after) the first, stressing instantaneity, immediacy. E.g. 「彼女の名前を呼ぶやいなや、振り返った」 (the moment I called her name, she turned around), 「信号が青になるやいなや、車が走り出した」 (the moment the light turned green, the cars started off). ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form ＋ やいなや! ⚠️ Key: the two actions are almost simultaneous, right after each other, and the subjects before/after may differ (called name → she turns); the latter is an accomplished fact (past), not taking an intention/command. ⚠️ A highly formal, written, literary expression. ⚠️ Contrast with 「たとたん」: similar meaning, but やいなや is more written, literary.
🧠 Core nuance: the moment the first occurs, the latter follows almost simultaneously, immediately
The core is the moment the first action occurs, the latter occurs almost simultaneously (or right after), immediately, stressing instantaneous immediacy: ‘verb dict. form ＋ やいなや' means ‘just finished A, then immediately B,' the two actions with almost no time gap (ドアを開けるやいなや、犬が飛び出した = the moment the door opened, the dog dashed out, 彼は席に着くやいなや、話し始めた = the moment he sat down, he began to speak, 飛行機が着陸するやいなや、乗客たちは立ち上がった = the moment the plane landed, the passengers stood up). ⚠️ Core: stressing an ‘instantaneous, immediate' right-after relation, the two actions almost simultaneous. ⚠️ Key features: ① the subjects before/after may differ (名前を呼ぶやいなや、彼女が振り返った = I call the name, she turns, different subjects fine); ② the latter is an accomplished fact (usually past), not taking an intention, command, supposition, request (✗ 着いたらやいなや電話して); ③ objectively describing an instantaneous event. ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form ＋ やいなや (✗ ta-form, ✗ ます-form). ⚠️ Register: highly formal, written, literary, rarely used in speech (everyday uses 「〜とすぐに」 or 「〜たとたん」). ⚠️ Contrast with 「たとたん」: similar meaning (the moment …), but やいなや is more written, more literary; たとたん is more general, and often carries surprise. ⚠️ Contrast with 「が早いか」「なり」: both express instantaneous sequence (written). An N1 instantaneous-sequence written expression.
📌 Connection Rules
| Part of speech | Connection | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb | dict. form ＋ やいなや | 呼ぶやいなや |
| latter clause | an accomplished fact (past) | 振り返った |
| subject | before/after may differ | 呼ぶ→彼女が振り返る |
| register | highly formal, written, literary | — |
💬 Example Sentences
- 彼女の名前を呼ぶやいなや、振り返った。(The moment I called her name, she turned around.) — instantaneous (different subjects)
- 信号が青になるやいなや、車が走り出した。(The moment the light turned green, the cars started off.) — instantaneous
- 飛行機が着陸するやいなや、乗客たちは立ち上がった。(The moment the plane landed, the passengers stood up.) — instantaneous
- ドアを開けるやいなや、犬が飛び出してきた。(The moment the door opened, the dog dashed out.) — instantaneous
- 彼は席に着くやいなや、話し始めた。(The moment he sat down, he began to speak.) — instantaneous
🔄 Compare: やいなや vs たとたん vs が早いか vs なり
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜やいなや | the moment 〜, immediately (instantaneous, written/literary) | 呼ぶやいなや振り返った |
| 〜たとたん | the moment 〜 (instantaneous, often surprise) | 開けたとたん |
| 〜が早いか | the moment 〜, immediately (instantaneous, written) | 見るが早いか |
| 〜なり | the moment 〜 (instantaneous, same subject) | 帰るなり寝た |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Connection uses the dict. form: verb dict. form ＋ やいなや (呼ぶやいなや, ✗ 呼んだやいなや).
- The latter takes no intention/command: the latter is an accomplished fact (past), not an intention, command, request (✗ 着くやいなや電話して).
- Subjects before/after may differ: 名前を呼ぶやいなや彼女が振り返った (different subjects fine).
- Written, literary: やいなや is highly formal, written; speech uses とすぐに/たとたん.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「〜やいなや」 expresses ‘the moment 〜, immediately 〜,' the latter following almost simultaneously the moment the first occurs (名前を呼ぶやいなや振り返った, 信号が青になるやいなや車が走り出した). ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form ＋ やいなや; the subjects before/after may differ; the latter is an accomplished fact, not taking an intention/command. Highly formal, written, literary. Contrast with たとたん (more general, often surprise). An N1 instantaneous-sequence written expression — memorize it.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N1 core: 〜やいなや = the moment 〜, immediately (instantaneous sequence); verb dict. form ＋ やいなや, subjects before/after may differ, the latter an accomplished fact (past).
- Restriction: the latter takes no intention/command/request; highly formal, written, literary (speech uses とすぐに/たとたん).
- Distinction: やいなや (written, literary) vs たとたん (more general, often surprise) vs が早いか/なり (instantaneous sequence).
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「彼女の名前を呼ぶ___、振り返った。」(the moment I called her name, she turned around)
(A) たとたん (B) やいなや (C) たが最後 (D) てから
Q2. 「信号が青になる___、車が走り出した。」(the moment the light turned green, the cars started off)
(A) やいなや (B) たが最後 (C) ながらに (D) どころか
Q3. What's the difference between 「やいなや」 and 「たとたん」?
(A) exactly the same
(B) やいなや allows different subjects before/after; たとたん usually has the same subject
(C) やいなや is negative only; たとたん affirmative only
(D) たとたん is written-only
Q4. 「飛行機が着陸する___、乗客たちは立ち上がった。」(the moment the plane landed, the passengers stood up)
(A) たが最後 (B) やいなや (C) どころか (D) ながら
Q5. What's the defining feature of 「やいなや」?
(A) A finishes, then long after, B happens
(B) B happens almost simultaneously with A (an extremely short time gap)
(C) B is a bad result caused by A
(D) A and B are unrelated
Answer Key
1. (B) やいなや ── 名前を呼ぶやいなや、振り返った = the moment I called her name, she turned (instantaneous sequence).
2. (A) やいなや ── 信号が青になるやいなや、車が走り出した (the moment it turned green).
3. (B) ── やいなや allows different subjects before/after; たとたん usually has the same subject.
4. (B) やいなや ── 着陸するやいなや (the moment it landed).
5. (B) ── B happens almost simultaneously with A (an extremely short time gap).