かと思うと
Then again, Just when I thought, No sooner than
Structure
［い］Adjective + かと思ったら(2)
［な］Adjective + かと思ったら(2)
Noun + かと思ったら(2)
(1) Verb［る］
(2) かと思うと、かと思えば
Explanation
By combining the adverbial particle か with と, the verb 思う, and a conditional marker like たら or と, a grammatical structure is formed to express a sudden or unexpected change. It is used when event (B) occurs right after the speaker thought event (A) was happening. This is often translated as 'just when I thought (A), (B)', 'no sooner had (A) happened, than (B)', or '(A), but the next moment (B)'. The literal sense is 'at the very moment I thought (A), something else (B) happened'.
かと思うと and かと思ったら typically follow a verb in its plain present (dictionary) form or plain past (た) form.
- 雨がやんだかと思ったら、また土砂降りになった。Just when I thought the rain had stopped, it started pouring again.
- 猫が寝ているかと思うと、急に飛び起きて走り出した。One moment the cat was sleeping, and the next it suddenly jumped up and ran off.
- 信号が青になったかと思ったら、すぐにまた赤に変わった。No sooner had the traffic light turned green than it changed back to red again.
- あの店がやっと開いたかと思うと、もう満員だった。Just when I thought that shop had finally opened, it was already full of people.
This grammar pattern can also follow nouns, particularly in sentences that convey the speaker's emotional response or a change in perception about (A).
- 静かな人かと思ったら、実はすごくおしゃべりだった。I thought they were a quiet person, but it turns out they're actually very talkative.
- これで卒業かと思うと、うれしいやら寂しいやらだ。To think that I'm finally graduating makes me feel both happy and sad.
When the second clause expresses the speaker's feelings, なの (with nouns) or の (with verbs) is sometimes inserted before かと思ったら.
Caution
At times, the particle か can be dropped, resulting in just と思うと or と思ったら. The meaning does not change, but leaving out か can make the phrase sound slightly more gentle.- 桜が咲いたと思ったら、もう散ってしまった。It seemed the cherry blossoms had just bloomed, and then they were already gone.
- 弟が静かに勉強していると思うと、友達と電話で話していた。Just when I thought my little brother was studying quietly, he was on the phone talking with a friend.
Examples
赤ちゃんが泣いていたかと思ったら、急ににっこり笑った。
Just when I thought the baby was crying, it suddenly broke into a smile.
テストは難しいかと思ったら、意外と簡単だった。
Just when I thought the test would be difficult, it turned out to be surprisingly easy.
彼は静かかと思ったら、実はとてもおしゃべりだった。
Just when I thought he was a quiet person, it turned out he was actually very talkative.
雨がやんだかと思ったら、また降り出した。
Just when I thought the rain had stopped, it started pouring again.
知らない人かと思ったら、高校時代の友達だった。
Just when I thought it was a stranger, I realized it was a friend from high school.
猫が眠っているかと思うと、突然飛び起きた。
No sooner than I thought the cat was sleeping, it suddenly jumped up. (just when (I) thought)
家に帰るかと思ったら、図書館の方へ行った。
Just when I thought he was going home, he headed toward the library instead.
喜んだかと思ったら、次の瞬間には顔を曇らせた。
Just when I thought he was pleased, his expression clouded over in the next moment.
値段が高いかと思ったら、セールで半額だった。
Just when I thought it was expensive, I found out it was half price because of a sale.
お店は暇かと思ったら、どっとお客さんが入ってきた。
Just when I thought the store was empty, a flood of customers came in.
やっとプロジェクトが終わったかと思ったら、大きな修正依頼が来た。
Just when I thought the project was finally finished, a request for major revisions came in.
車が角を曲がったかと思うと、もう見えなくなった。
No sooner than the car turned the corner, it was already out of sight. (just when (I) thought)