ISORI

〜そばから

JLPT N1:

as soon as, repeatedly undone

Describes an action whose result is repeatedly undone or contradicted almost immediately, often with frustration.

How to form it

  • Put そばから after a dictionary-form or た-form verb: 覚(おぼ)えるそばから, 覚(おぼ)えたそばから.
  • The same cycle happens repeatedly; this is not a single neutral sequence.
  • The second action typically cancels, reverses or spoils the result of the first.

Examples

新(あたら)しい単語(たんご)を覚(おぼ)えたそばから忘(わす)れてしまう。

As soon as I learn new words, I forget them again.

部屋(へや)を片(かた)づけるそばから、子供(こども)たちが散(ち)らかしていく。

As soon as I tidy the room, the children mess it up again.

Common mistakes

  • Using it for a one-time neutral sequence.
  • Failing to show the first result being undone or contradicted.

Similar meaning

  • 〜とたんにthe moment

    たとたん describes one immediate, often surprising event; そばから describes a frustrating repeated cycle.