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GRAMMAR
〜なり
as soon as
Explanation
NOTE

〜なり means as soon as — a second action happens right after the first, with no pause between them.

彼かれは家いえに帰かえるなり、寝ねてしまった。
As soon as he got home, he fell asleep.
NOTE

It is formal and literary. The second action is often sudden, unexpected, or out of the speaker's control.

子供こどもは母ははの顔かおを見みるなり、泣なき出だした。
As soon as the child saw his mother's face, he burst into tears.
The result clause is in the past tense and describes a completed action.
NOTE

Attach なり to a verb in dictionary form. The result clause is in the past tense.

STRUCTURE
V辞
なり
彼女かのじょは手紙てがみを読よむなり、泣なき出だした。
Kanojo wa tegami o yomu nari, nakidashita.
As soon as she read the letter, she burst into tears.
父ちちは席せきに着つくなり、新聞しんぶんを開ひらいた。
Chichi wa seki ni tsuku nari, shinbun o hiraita.
As soon as my father sat down, he opened the newspaper.
犬いぬは主人しゅじんを見みるなり、走はしって来きた。
Inu wa shujin o miru nari, hashitte kita.
As soon as the dog saw its owner, it came running.
母はは、家いえに着つくなり、料理りょうりを作つくり始はじめました。
Haha wa, ie ni tsuku nari, ryouri o tsukuri hajimemashita.
As soon as my mother arrived home, she started cooking.
ベルが鳴なるなり、生徒せいとたちは教室きょうしつを飛とび出だしました。
Beru ga naru nari, seito-tachi wa kyoushitsu o tobidashimashita.
As soon as the bell rang, the students ran out of the classroom.
彼は私わたしの顔かおを見みるなり、笑わらい出だしました。
Kare wa watashi no kao o miru nari, waraidashimashita.
As soon as he saw my face, he burst out laughing.

Practice exercises

1
彼かれは部屋へやに入はいるなり、窓まどを開あけた。
As soon as he entered the room, he opened the window.
Answer
なり
2
彼女かのじょは知しらせを聞きくなり、家いえを飛とび出だした。
As soon as she heard the news, she rushed out of the house.
Answer
なり
3
弟おとうとは料理りょうりを見みるなり、食たべ始はじめた。
As soon as my brother saw the food, he started eating.
Answer
なり
4
容疑者ようぎしゃは警察けいさつを見みるなり、一目散いちもくさんに逃走とうそうした。
As soon as the suspect saw the police, he fled headlong.
Answer
なり
5
会議かいぎが終おわるなり、参加者さんかしゃは席せきを立たった。
As soon as the meeting ended, the participants stood up from their seats.
Answer
なり
6
彼かれは私わたしの顔かおを見みるなり、急きゅうに逃にげ出だした。
As soon as he saw my face, he suddenly ran away.
Answer
なり
7
新製品しんせいひんの発表はっぴょうがされるなり、注文ちゅうもんが殺到さっとうした。
As soon as the new product was announced, orders poured in.
Answer
なり
8
彼かれは部屋へやに入はいるなり、すぐに窓まどを開あけた。
As soon as he entered the room, he immediately opened the window.
Answer
なり