as soon as, no sooner than (repeated action)

Advanced

25-30 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Indicates that something is undone or reversed immediately after being done.

[Verb た form] + そばから

覚えたそばから忘れてしまう。

Oboeta sobakara wasurete shimau.

I forget as soon as I learn it.

掃除したそばから汚される。

Souji shita sobakara yogosareru.

It gets dirty as soon as I clean it.

Emphasizes futility or repetition.

～や否や

as soon as, the moment

～ゆえ(に)

because of, due to, for that reason

～ならいざ知らず

~ might be one thing, but; leaving ~ aside

～てやまない

earnestly wish/hope, never stop ~ing

～をものともせずに

not being daunted by ~, in spite of ~

～んがため(に)

in order to ~, for the purpose of ~ (formal/literary)

Used for frustrating repeated cycles.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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