なりImmediately upon doing
なり presents one person's abrupt action or reaction immediately after that same person does something else. It is mainly a literary narrative form used for completed events.
One person, two rapid actions
The person who does the first action also does or experiences the second. The second event follows so quickly that the first action feels like its immediate trigger. The second event is often sudden, surprising, or socially striking, although surprise is not an absolute requirement.
彼女は手紙を読むなり、顔色を変えた。
The moment she read the letter, her expression changed.
AnalyzeShe performs both actions: she reads the letter and then immediately reacts.
男は部屋に入るなり、窓を全部開けた。
As soon as the man entered the room, he opened all the windows.
AnalyzeA narrator reports what happened
This construction normally reports an observed or completed sequence involving a third person. It is not a natural choice for announcing what you yourself intend to do next, giving routine instructions, or stating a neutral schedule.
Typical narrative reactions
The following events are immediate and conspicuous enough to justify the dramatic written style.
The verb form changes the time relation
A plain nonpast verb before なり means that another event happens immediately. A past verb before it belongs to a different construction: the state produced by the first action remains unchanged.
彼はソファに座ったなり、朝まで動かなかった。
He sat down on the sofa and remained there without moving until morning.
AnalyzeThe past form describes a continuing result state, not a second action that occurred immediately.
More examples
父は新聞を広げるなり、眉をひそめた。
The moment my father opened the newspaper, he frowned.
Analyze記者は会見場を出るなり、編集部に電話をかけた。
As soon as the reporter left the press conference, she called the editorial office.
Analyze子どもは靴を脱ぐなり、二階へ駆け上がった。
The child kicked off his shoes and immediately dashed upstairs.
Analyze研究者は数値を見るなり、計算をやり直した。
The moment the researcher saw the figures, she redid the calculation.
Analyze猫は籠から出されるなり、棚の下に隠れた。
As soon as the cat was let out of the carrier, it hid under the shelf.
Analyze彼は封筒を開けるなり、中身を机に並べた。
As soon as he opened the envelope, he laid its contents out on the desk.
Analyze