GRAMMAR
〜そばから
as soon as (repeatedly)
Explanation
NOTE
〜そばから means as soon as (repeatedly) — no sooner does one thing happen than another undoes it.
習ったそばから忘れてしまう。
As soon as I learn something, I forget it.
NOTE
It stresses repetition. The action keeps happening again and again, and is often a source of frustration.
片付けるそばから子供が散らかす。
No sooner do I tidy up than the kids make a mess again.
The two actions repeat in a cycle, so the effort feels endless.
NOTE
Attach そばから to a verb. Both the dictionary form and the た form are common with the same meaning.
STRUCTURE
V辞
そばから覚えるそばから忘れていく。
Oboeru soba kara wasurete iku.
As soon as I memorize words, I keep forgetting them.
掃除するそばから部屋が汚れる。
Souji suru soba kara heya ga yogoreru.
No sooner do I clean than the room gets dirty.
稼いだそばからお金を使ってしまう。
Kaseida soba kara okane o tsukatte shimau.
As soon as I earn money, I spend it.
Practice exercises
1
習うそばから忘れてしまう。
As soon as I learn something, I forget it.
Answer
そばから
2
片付けるそばから散らかる。
No sooner do I tidy up than it gets messy.
Answer
そばから
3
稼ぐそばからお金を使う。
As soon as I earn money, I spend it.
Answer
そばから
4
片付けるそばから、子供が散らかす。
No sooner do I tidy up than the children make a mess again.
Answer
そばから
5
新しい単語を覚えるそばから忘れてしまう。
As soon as I memorize new words, I forget them.
Answer
そばから
6
修理するそばから、別の箇所が壊れる。
No sooner do I repair it than a different part breaks.
Answer
そばから
7
システムは修正するそばから新たな問題が発生する。
No sooner is the system fixed than new problems arise.
Answer
そばから
8
規制に適応するそばから次々と新しいものが導入される。
No sooner do we adapt to the regulations than new ones are introduced one after another.
Answer
そばから