JLPT N1 grammar
〜や否や — Meaning & Examples
"As soon as" — formal and literary; happily takes uncontrollable reactions. 発売されるや否や売り切れた. Read やいなや.
〜や否や — "As Soon As" (Literary)
や否や（やいなや）also means "as soon as," with a formal, literary flavour. It's a close sibling of が早いか.
Pattern: [dictionary form] + や否や
（often shortened to just 〜や in very literary writing）
ドアを開けるや否や、猫が飛び出してきた。
= The moment I opened the door, the cat shot out.
その歌手が登場するや否や、会場は大歓声に包まれた。
= As soon as the singer appeared, the venue erupted in cheers.
新製品は発売されるや否や、売り切れた。
= The new product sold out as soon as it went on sale.
が早いか vs や否や:
- Both are written-register "the instant that."
- が早いか leans toward deliberate, energetic second actions.
- や否や comfortably takes reactions and events beyond anyone's control (crowds cheering, things selling out).
Key feeling: Formal narration — "scarcely had X happened when Y." Perfect for news and fiction.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on 〜や否や. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. Which pattern expresses REPEATED "as soon as" with exasperation?
- そばから (soba kara)
- や否や (ya ina ya)
- なり (nari)
- が早いか (ga hayai ka)
Show answer
Answer: そばから (soba kara)
そばから = as soon as X, Y (undoes it) — again and again. 覚えるそばから忘れる = I forget as fast as I learn.
2. How is や否や read?
- やひや (yahiya)
- やなにや (yananiya)
- やいなや (yainaya)
- やふや (yafuya)
Show answer
Answer: やいなや (yainaya)
や否や is read やいなや — "as soon as," formal and literary.
3. Which pattern is best for narrating uncontrollable reactions (e.g. a product selling out)?
- や否や (ya ina ya)
- なり (nari)
- そばから (soba kara)
- てこそ (te koso)
Show answer
Answer: や否や (ya ina ya)
や否や comfortably takes events beyond anyone's control: 発売されるや否や売り切れた = sold out as soon as it launched.
Practise 〜や否や in the free app
This point is part of the “The Instant That — が早いか・や否や・なり・そばから” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N1 grammar points
From the same lesson: The Instant That — が早いか・や否や・なり・そばから
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜や否や mean?
"As soon as" — formal and literary; happily takes uncontrollable reactions. 発売されるや否や売り切れた. Read やいなや.
Is 〜や否や on the JLPT N1 test?
〜や否や is taught in the JLPT N1 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “The Instant That — が早いか・や否や・なり・そばから”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜や否や?
Open the “The Instant That — が早いか・や否や・なり・そばから” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N1 mock exams, with no ads.