Time & Sequence

Introduction

Advanced time expressions describe triggers, turning points, and sequences with precision. These patterns go beyond "before" and "after" to express "as soon as", "ever since", and "taking the opportunity".

Common in narrative, historical accounts, and business contexts.

Themes

All Japanese Grammar Advanced in This Chapter (12)

1. ～が早いか がはやいか A conjunction meaning 'as soon as' or 'the moment that,' emphasising the immediacy with which a second action follows the first. It conve...
2. ～や否や・やいなや やいなや A conjunction meaning 'as soon as' or 'no sooner than,' expressing that a second event occurs immediately after the first. It emphasises ...
3. ～なり なり A conjunction meaning 'as soon as' or 'the instant,' indicating that a second action occurs immediately upon completion of the first. It ...
4. ～かと思うと かとおもうと A phrase meaning 'just when I thought' or 'no sooner than,' indicating that immediately after one event or state is noticed, a contrastin...
5. ～（っ）きり きり A conjunction meaning 'since' or 'ever since,' indicating that after a certain event occurred, the expected continuation or return never ...
6. ～たなり（で） たなり A conjunction meaning 'remaining in the state of' or 'as it was since,' indicating that after an action was performed, the resulting cond...
7. ～以来 いらい An adverb meaning 'since' or 'ever since,' marking the starting point of a continuing state or habit. It indicates that something has bee...
8. 一旦・いったん いったん An adverb meaning 'once' or 'once something happens,' indicating that after a condition is established, it is difficult to reverse or has...
9. ～末（に） すえに A noun meaning 'after' or 'at the end of,' indicating the outcome that follows a period of prolonged effort, deliberation, or struggle. I...
10. ～折（に） おりに A noun meaning 'on the occasion of' or 'when the opportunity arises,' used to refer to special, uncommon, or primarily positive occasions...
11. ～ついでに ついでに A phrase meaning 'while you're at it' or 'taking the opportunity to,' expressing that someone performs a secondary action alongside a pri...
12. ～ついては ついては A sentence-initial conjunction meaning 'accordingly,' 'in connection with this,' or 'with regard to the above,' used to introduce a reque...