Japatan
Formation
- V辞書形 + そばから
- Vた形 + そばから
Explanation
A そばから B means that no sooner is A done than B happens and undoes it, again and again. Typical situations are tidying up only for things to get messy at once, or learning words only to forget them. It often carries a feeling of frustration. It is not used for a single, one-time event.
Examples
片付けるそばから、子どもがおもちゃを出してしまう。
No sooner do I tidy up than the kids pull their toys out again.
新しい単語は 覚えるそばから 忘れていく。
I forget new words as soon as I learn them.
雪の日は、道の雪を かいたそばから、また積もってしまう。
On snowy days, the snow piles up again as soon as I clear the road.
彼は給料を もらうそばから 使ってしまうので、貯金ができない。
He spends his salary as soon as he gets it, so he can't save any money.
Notes
が早いか and や否や describe a single event, while そばから describes something that keeps happening. The second part can be in the present (habit) or past tense.
Related grammar
Mini quiz
1注意した（ ）、弟はまた同じ間違いをする。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 そばから
The sentence means: No sooner do I warn my brother than he makes the same mistake again. 以上 gives a reason, くせに criticizes the same subject, and からこそ stresses a reason.
2「〜そばから」の使い方が正しい文はどれか。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 1 掃除するそばから、犬が部屋を汚してしまう。
1 means: The dog dirties the room as soon as I clean it. そばから is for repeated situations where an effort is undone. 2 is a single event, 3 means ever since, and 4 is an invitation.
3田中さんは本を（ ）そばから内容を忘れてしまうそうだ。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 読む
そばから follows the dictionary form or ta-form. The sentence means: Mr. Tanaka says he forgets the content of books as soon as he reads them.
