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〜や否や・〜や

the moment, as soon as

Verb dictionary form + や否や / や

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や否や (やいなや) means "the moment", literally "whether it was or wasn't": ドアが開くや否や、猫が飛び込んできた, "the moment the door opened, the cat ran in". Shortened to や, it's even more literary: 席に着くや、話し始めた.

Like が早いか, it describes a past event, where the second action follows the first instantly, often as a reaction. It isn't used for requests, plans or the speaker's intentions.

It follows the dictionary form, even when the story is in the past.

The three N1 "the moment" patterns are close:

  • が早いか stresses speed.
  • や否や stresses immediacy and is the most common in writing.
  • なり needs the same subject for both actions and suggests something unexpected.

Examples

  • ドアが開あくや否いなや、猫ねこが飛とび込こんできた。

    The moment the door opened, the cat ran in.

  • 彼かれはそのニュースを聞きくや否いなや、家いえを飛とび出だした。

    The moment he heard the news, he rushed out of the house.

  • 試合終了しあいしゅうりょうの笛ふえが鳴なるや否いなや、選手せんしゅたちは抱だき合あった。

    As soon as the final whistle blew, the players hugged each other.

  • 新商品しんしょうひんは発売はつばいされるや否いなや、売うり切きれた。

    The new product sold out the moment it was released.

  • 彼かれは席せきに着つくや、すぐに話はなし始はじめた。

    The moment he sat down, he started talking.

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