そばから
As soon as, Right after, Even if … still
Structure
Verb［た］+ そばから + Phrase
Explanation
そばから is a grammatical structure formed by combining the noun 側, meaning 'side', with the case marking particle から, meaning 'from'. It describes a situation where one event (B) occurs immediately after another (A), and can be translated as 'as soon as' or 'the moment that'.
The event that follows (B) is often something negative, frustrating, or an action that seems to cancel out the effect of (A). Thinking of the literal meaning, 'from the very side of (A), (B) happens', can be a useful way to remember the nuance of something happening without any delay, often to the speaker's dismay.
そばから connects to a verb in either its dictionary form or its past-tense (た) form.
- 部屋を掃除したそばから子供が汚す。The kids make a mess right after I finish cleaning the room.
- 新しい単語を覚えるそばから忘れてしまうので、全然進まない。I can't make any progress because I forget new vocabulary as soon as I learn it.
- アルバイトで稼いだそばから、好きなことにお金を使ってしまう。As soon as I earn money at my part-time job, I end up spending it on things I like.
- 料理を作るそばから家族に食べられて、いつも私の分がなくなる。My family eats the food as soon as I make it, so there's never any left for me.
Since そばから indicates that something happens 'right after', there is no change in meaning whether you use the dictionary form or the past-tense form of the preceding verb.
Caution
そばから carries a strong implication that (B) is a recurring event that predictably follows (A), rather than something that happened only once.
- 傘をたたんだそばから、また雨が強くなった。The rain started pouring again the moment I folded up my umbrella.
Examples
部屋を片付けたそばから子供が散らかす。
As soon as I tidy up the room, my kids make a mess again.
料理を作り終わったそばから、家族に全部食べられてしまう。
My family eats everything up as soon as I finish cooking.
新しい単語を辞書で調べたそばから、意味を忘れてしまう。
I forget the meaning of a new word as soon as I look it up in the dictionary.
図書館では静かにするように注意したそばから、またおしゃべりを始める。
As soon as I warned them to be quiet in the library, they started chatting again.
やっと貯金ができたと思ったそばから、急な出費でお金がなくなる。
As soon as I think I've finally saved some money, an unexpected expense comes up and it's all gone.
彼は禁煙を決心したそばから、タバコに火をつけた。
He lit up a cigarette as soon as he decided to quit smoking.
ソファに乗るなと犬を叱ったそばから、また飛び乗るんだから。
I scold my dog for getting on the sofa, and as soon as I do, he jumps right back on.
いらないメールを削除したそばから、新しいのがどんどん届く。
As soon as I delete unwanted emails, new ones just keep on coming.
彼女は本を読むのが速い。一冊読み終えたそばから、次の本を読み始める。
She's a fast reader. As soon as she finishes one book, she starts the next one.
A：「また雑草が生えてる！」
B：「本当に。抜いたそばから生えてくるから、きりがないね。」
A: "The weeds are growing again!"
B: "I know, right? As soon as you pull them out, they grow right back. It's endless."
薬を飲んだそばから「まだ頭が痛い」と文句を言う。
As soon as he takes his medicine, he starts complaining that his head still hurts.
パーティーで自己紹介をされたそばから、相手の名前を忘れてしまう。
I forget people's names as soon as they introduce themselves to me at parties.