や否や・やいなや (ya ya yainaya)

Meaning & usage

や否や (also written やいなや) means that one action happens immediately after another, with no interval between them. It attaches to the plain (dictionary) form of a verb, and the following clause typically describes an action that occurs at once, often in the past tense.

Example sentences 8

1. トムは目め覚ざまし時計とけいが鳴なるや否いなや、ベッドから飛とび起おきた。

   Tom jumped out of bed as soon as the alarm clock went off.

2. 彼が部屋にはいるや否や、彼女はわっと泣き出した。

   Hardly had he entered the room, when she burst into tears.

3. その知らせを聞くや否や彼はさっと立ち上がった。

   He jumped to his feet the moment he heard the news.

4. その警官の姿を見かけるや否や、彼は逃げ出した。

   The instant he saw the policeman, he ran away.

5. 寝室に入るや否や、彼女は泣きじゃくり出した。

   On entering the bedroom, she started sobbing.

6. 一人になるや否や、彼女はその手紙を開いた。

   The moment she was alone she opened the letter.

7. 彼女は私を見るや否や、わっと泣き出した。

   The moment she saw me, she burst into tears.

8. 彼女はそれを聞くや否やすぐここへ来た。

   She came here as soon as she heard of it.