What does ～がはやいか mean? Japanese grammar N1

Forming it

How to use it

States that B occurs almost SIMULTANEOUSLY with A, so fast that it's hard to tell which came first. Written style.

• 「～が早いか」 = "the very instant A happens, B happens too", B is so fast it's almost simultaneous with A.
• Emphasizes how instantly B follows A.
• Close to 「や否や／なり」; 「が早いか」 emphasizes that B is so fast it's hard to say which came first.

Examples

• 彼(かれ)はベルが鳴(な)るが早(はや)いか、部屋(へや)を出(で)て行(い)った。

  The instant the bell rang, he left the room.

• 子供(こども)はプレゼントを見(み)るが早(はや)いか、駆(か)け寄(よ)った。

  The moment the kids saw the presents, they ran over.

Keep in mind

• Verb dictionary form/た-form + が早いか.
• The following clause is an immediate action, not a command.

Common mistakes

• Wrong家(いえ)に帰(かえ)るが早(はや)いか、宿題(しゅくだい)をしなさい。

  As soon as you get home, go do your homework.

  Correct家(いえ)に帰(かえ)るが早(はや)いか、寝(ね)てしまった。

  The clause after 「が早いか」 is an action that has ALREADY happened unexpectedly — it is not used for a command.

• Wrongゆっくり座(すわ)るが早(はや)いか、立(た)ち上(あ)がった。

  The instant he slowly sat down, he stood right back up.

  Correct座(すわ)るが早(はや)いか、立(た)ち上(あ)がった。

  「が早いか」 emphasizes IMMEDIACY, which contradicts 「ゆっくり」 (slowly).

Exam tips

• 「が早いか」 = the instant A happens, B happens too (almost simultaneous); written style.

Related patterns

• ～や否や
• ～なり
• ～とたんに