や・
や否や presents one event as following immediately upon another: the moment A happened, B followed. It is a marked written expression used mainly in narrative.
Two events with almost no gap
The first clause establishes a precise boundary, and the second event occurs at once. The construction normally reports something that actually happened; it is not ordinarily used for a future plan, intention, or command. The second event may be surprising, but surprise is not required.
Full and compact forms
Notice that the first verb is nonpast in form, while the final verb places the whole sequence in past narrative time.
電車が駅に着くや否や、待っていた乗客が一斉に乗り込んだ。
The moment the train arrived at the station, the waiting passengers all boarded at once.
AnalyzeThe subject changes from the train in the first clause to the passengers in the second.
彼は部屋に入るや否や、濡れた上着を脱いだ。
As soon as he entered the room, he took off his wet coat.
AnalyzeThe same person performs both actions.
幕が上がるや、観客席は静まり返った。
The moment the curtain rose, the audience fell completely silent.
AnalyzeThis is the compact literary form. The following clause makes it clear that や links two immediate events.
Subject changes are allowed
The two clauses may share a subject, but they do not have to. This makes the construction useful for scenes in which one event immediately triggers a reaction from another person or group. Keep the second event genuinely immediate rather than presenting a consequence that develops much later.
Choosing among immediate-event expressions
や否や marks the instant at which A occurs and freely allows the subject to change. が早いか is also dramatic and written, but presents A and B as if their speed were being compared. Immediate なり usually keeps the same third-person subject and often depicts abrupt behavior. たとたん uses a past-form verb, is less literary, and more strongly favors a sudden, unplanned result.
More examples
警報が鳴るや否や、作業員たちは非常口へ走った。
The moment the alarm sounded, the workers ran for the emergency exit.
Analyze彼女は封筒を開けるや否や、顔色を変えた。
As soon as she opened the envelope, her expression changed.
Analyze終演を告げるベルが鳴るや、観客から大きな拍手が起こった。
The moment the final bell rang, loud applause rose from the audience.
Analyze記者たちは会見が終わるや否や、いっせいに質問を投げかけた。
The moment the press conference ended, the reporters all began firing questions.
Analyze鳥は籠の扉が開くや、空へ飛び立った。
The moment the cage door opened, the bird flew into the sky.
Analyze社長が壇上に立つや否や、会場の視線が一斉に集まった。
As soon as the company president stepped onto the stage, every eye in the hall turned toward it.
Analyze