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〜そばから

no sooner … than (again and again)

Verb dictionary / た-form + そばから

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そばから says that as soon as something is done, it's undone, over and over: 片付けるそばから、子どもが散らかす, "no sooner do I tidy up than the kids make a mess again".

Unlike が早いか and や否や, which describe a single event, そばから describes a frustrating repeated cycle. The tone is usually exasperated.

The first half is an effort (tidying, memorising, earning, warning someone), and the second half cancels it (messing up, forgetting, spending, doing it again).

It comes from そば, "right beside", so it's "right beside the action, it's undone". Compare たびに (N3), "every time", which is neutral and doesn't imply undoing.

Examples

  • 片付かたづけるそばから、子こどもが散ちらかす。

    No sooner do I tidy up than the kids make a mess again.

  • 覚おぼえるそばから忘わすれてしまう。

    I forget things as fast as I learn them.

  • 注意ちゅういしたそばから、また同おなじミスをする。

    The moment I warn him, he makes the same mistake again.

  • 雪ゆきは降ふるそばから溶とけていった。

    The snow melted as soon as it fell.

  • 彼かれは稼かせぐそばから使つかってしまう。

    He spends money as fast as he earns it.

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