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〜矢先(に)

just when (about to), just as

Verb volitional + とした矢先に · Verb た-form + 矢先に

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矢先に means "just as", right at the moment someone was about to do something, or had just done it, when something unexpected happened: 出かけようとした矢先に、電話が鳴った, "just as I was about to go out, the phone rang".

The two common shapes are 〜ようとした矢先に (about to) and 〜た矢先に (had just). The event in the second half is almost always unwelcome: an accident, bad news, an interruption.

矢先 is literally "the tip of an arrow", the moment of release. Compare 最中に (N3), "in the middle of doing", and ところに (N2), "just then", which is more neutral.

Examples

  • 出でかけようとした矢先やさきに、電話でんわが鳴なった。

    Just as I was about to go out, the phone rang.

  • 家いえを買かった矢先やさきに、転勤てんきんを命めいじられた。

    Just after we'd bought a house, I was ordered to transfer.

  • 禁煙きんえんを決きめた矢先やさきに、たばこをもらった。

    Just when I'd decided to quit smoking, someone gave me cigarettes.

  • 注意ちゅういしようと思おもっていた矢先やさきに、事故じこが起おきた。

    Just as I'd been meaning to warn them, there was an accident.

  • 仕事しごとに慣なれてきた矢先やさき、病気びょうきで倒たおれた。

    Just as he was getting used to the job, he fell ill.

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