Verbる や否や (Verb-ru ya ina ya)
Explanation
Expresses the idea of 'as soon as', 'the moment...'.
Formation
Verb-dictionary form + や否や
Detailed Explanation
The grammar point Verbる や否や is used to express something happening immediately after another action or event. It can be translated as 'as soon as...' or 'the moment...'. The verb must be in dictionary form.
Examples
彼女が家に帰るや否や、すぐにテレビをつけました。
Kanojo ga ie ni kaeru ya ina ya, sugu ni terebi o tsukemashita.
As soon as she returned home, she turned on the TV.
私が郵便箱を開けるや否や、手紙が落ちました。
Watashi ga yuubinbako o akeru ya ina ya, tegami ga ochimashita.
The moment I opened the mailbox, the letters fell out.
子供たちは学校が終わるや否や、公園に走りました。
Kodomo-tachi wa gakkou ga owaru ya ina ya, kouen ni hashirimashita.
As soon as school was over, the children ran to the park.
父が新聞を読むや否や、何かに震えていました。
Chichi ga shinbun o yomu ya ina ya, nanika ni furuete imashita.
The moment my father read the newspaper, he started trembling about something.
Grammar content sourced from hanabira.org.