JLPT N1 Grammar

〜そばから (soba kara)

〜そばから (soba kara)
"As soon as; right after (repeatedly)"

This expression is used to describe a situation where, even though an action is performed, another contrary or obstructive action occurs immediately afterward. It is almost always used to express the speaker's frustration, annoyance, or sense of futility regarding a repetitive cycle.

  • Formality: Neutral to literary. It can be used in both spoken and written Japanese, though it's more common in descriptive contexts.
  • Context: Used frequently in daily life or work to complain about things not progressing or being undone (e.g., cleaning vs. messing up, learning vs. forgetting).
  • Nuance: Unlike other "as soon as" expressions, this implies repetition. It suggests that the same sequence of events happens over and over, making the initial effort feel wasted. It usually carries a negative connotation.

Format

  • Verb (Dictionary Form) + そばから
    覚えるそばから、新しい単語を忘れてしまう。 As soon as I learn them, I forget the new words.
  • Verb (た-Form) + そばから
    注意したそばから、また同じミスを繰り返す。 As soon as I've warned them, they repeat the same mistake again.

Example sentences

  • 、。
    As soon as I clean, the children mess up the room.
  • 、。
    As soon as I reply to an email, a new inquiry arrives.
  • 、。
    As soon as I've edited the document, more parts to be changed appear.
  • 、。
    As soon as my salary comes in, it vanishes into payments.
  • 、。
    As soon as I hear a name, I forget it.
  • 、。
    As soon as I make the food, it gets eaten by my family.
  • 、。
    As soon as I teach my subordinate, he messes up the procedure.
  • 、。
    As soon as I start taking notes, I get confused about what I should be writing.
  • 、。
    As soon as I tidy up, documents start piling up again.
  • 、。
    As soon as I earn money, I end up spending it wastefully.

Similar Grammar

〜が早いか (ga hayai ka)

“As soon as; the moment that”
ベルが鳴るが早いか、彼は外へ飛び出した。 The moment the bell rang, he flew outside.

Difference:

  • One-time event, very fast, focus on speed rather than repetition or frustration.

〜なり (nari)

“As soon as; the moment”
帰宅するなり、彼は倒れ込むように寝た。 As soon as he got home, he fell asleep as if collapsing.

Difference:

  • Focuses on a sudden, sometimes unexpected action by a third person.
  • Not necessarily repetitive.

〜たかと思ったら (ta ka to omottara)

“Just when I thought... (suddenly)”
赤ちゃんは泣いたかと思ったら、もう笑っている。 Just when I thought the baby was crying, she's already laughing.

Difference:

  • Expresses the speaker's surprise at a sudden change.

〜つつ (tsutsu)

“While; although”
体に悪いと知りつつ、夜食を食べてしまう。 While knowing it's bad for my health, I end up eating a midnight snack.

Difference:

  • Focuses on concurrent actions or the conflict between knowledge and action.

〜を皮切りに (o kawakiri ni)

“Starting with...”
東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まる。 Starting with the Tokyo performance, the nationwide tour begins.

Difference:

  • Used for a succession of events starting from a specific trigger, usually positive or neutral.

JLPT Practice Questions

Now let’s test your understanding.

Q1. のを（　　　）、またが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q2. はのを（　　　）、へ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q3. は、を（　　　）、どこにか。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q4. が（　　　）、またが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q5. のに（　　　）、が。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q6. への（　　　）、はへ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q7. （　　　）のでは、のが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q8. はを（　　　）、。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q9. を（　　　）、別のが、はしている。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q10. がを（　　　）、はとなった。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q11. を（　　　）、がしまう。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q12. （　　　）、がした。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q13. を（　　　）、またを。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q14. も（　　　）、を。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q15. が（　　　）にため、にが。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Continue Your Journey to Native-Level Fluency

Great work finishing this session! Achieving N1-level precision is about layering these subtle distinctions until they become second nature in your professional life.

To maintain your momentum and eliminate any remaining blind spots, head back to our JLPT N1 Grammar List. Use it to systematically check off each point and refine your ability to navigate complex Japanese environments with the confidence of a native speaker.

JLPT N1 Grammar List

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