GRAMMAR
〜矢先に
just as
at the very moment
Explanation
NOTE
〜矢先に means just when or at the very moment of — used when something unexpected happens right after an action was completed.
出かけようとした矢先に、雨が降り出した。
Just when I was about to go out, it started raining.
The second clause usually expresses an unexpected or unfortunate event.
NOTE
Literally, 矢先 means the tip of an arrow — evoking the exact instant an arrow is released. Use it for events that happen at that critical moment.
NOTE
Attach to the verb past form (V-た). The pattern is [V][た] + 矢先に. Often combined with phrases like 〜ようとした矢先に (just as I was about to...).
STRUCTURE
Vた
<ruby>矢先<rt>やさき</rt></ruby>に新しい仕事を始めた矢先に、病気になってしまった。
Atarashii shigoto wo hajimeta yasaki ni, byouki ni natte shimatta.
Just when I had started a new job, I fell ill.
家を買おうと決めた矢先に、転勤の話が来た。
Ie wo kaou to kimeta yasaki ni, tenkin no hanashi ga kita.
Just when I had decided to buy a house, news of a transfer came.
寝ようとした矢先に、電話が鳴った。
Neyou to shita yasaki ni, denwa ga natta.
Just when I was about to sleep, the phone rang.
Practice exercises
1
外出しようとした矢先に、いきなり雨が降ってきた。
Just as I was about to go out, it suddenly started raining.
Answer
矢先に
2
休もうとした矢先に、忽ち緊急な呼び出しがあった。
Just as I was about to rest, suddenly there was an urgent summons.
Answer
矢先に
3
成功を収めようとした矢先に、予期せぬ事態が起こった。
Just as we were about to achieve success, an unexpected situation occurred.
Answer
矢先に
4
店を出る次第、走ろうとした矢先に、転んだ。
As soon as I left the store, just as I was about to run, I fell down.
Answer
矢先に
5
新しい事業を開始しようとした矢先に、問題が発覚した。
Just as we were about to start the new business, a problem came to light.
Answer
矢先に