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GRAMMAR
〜か〜ないかのうちに
just as
right after
Explanation
NOTE

〜か〜ないかのうちに means almost the instant X happens, or barely had X occurred when Y — two events occurring near-simultaneously.

家いえを出でるか出でないかのうちに、雨あめが降ふり出だした。
The instant I left the house, it started to rain.
The two events feel as if they happened at the very same moment.
NOTE

Both verb slots use the same verb: first in dictionary form, then in negative ない form. The second clause describes what happened right at that moment.

NOTE

The second clause is almost always in the past tense, since both events have already happened. It often describes a sudden or unexpected event.

STRUCTURE
V辞かVないかのうちに
電車でんしゃに乗のるか乗のらないかのうちに出発しゅっぱつした。
Densha ni noru ka noranai ka no uchi ni shuppatsu shita.
The train departed just as I was getting on it.
家いえを出でるか出でないかのうちに雨あめが降ふり出だした。
Ie o deru ka denai ka no uchi ni ame ga furidashita.
It started raining just as I left the house.
先生せんせいが教室きょうしつに入はいるか入はいらないかのうちに授業じゅぎょうが始はじまった。
Sensei ga kyoushitsu ni hairu ka hairanai ka no uchi ni jugyou ga hajimatta.
The class started right after the teacher entered the classroom.
息子むすこは布団ふとんに入はいるか入はいらないかのうちに寝ねてしまった。
Musuko wa futon ni hairu ka hairanai ka no uchi ni nete shimatta.
Almost the instant my son got into bed, he fell asleep.
電車でんしゃのドアが開あくか開あかないかのうちに、乗客じょうきゃくが飛とび出だした。
Densha no doa ga aku ka akanai ka no uchi ni, joukyaku ga tobidashita.
The instant the train doors opened, the passengers rushed out.
授業じゅぎょうが終おわるか終おわらないかのうちに、生徒せいとたちは教室きょうしつを出でた。
Jugyou ga owaru ka owaranai ka no uchi ni, seitotachi wa kyoushitsu wo deta.
Barely had class ended when the students left the classroom.

Practice exercises

1
電車でんしゃが駅えきに着つくか着つかないかのうちに、いきなりドアが開あいた。
Just as the train was about to arrive at the station, the doors suddenly opened.
Answer
着つくか着つかないかのうちに
2
雨あめが降ふるか降ふらないかのうちに、忽たちち空そらが暗くらくなった。
Just as it was about to rain, the sky immediately grew dark.
Answer
降ふるか降ふらないかのうちに
3
彼かれは部屋へやに入はいるか入はいらないかのうちに、倒たおれてしまった。
Just as he was about to enter the room, he collapsed.
Answer
入はいるか入はいらないかのうちに
4
彼かれは私わたしの顔かおを見みるか見みないかのうちに、逃にげ出だした。
Just as he was about to see my face, he ran away.
Answer
見みるか見みないかのうちに
5
出発しゅっぱつする矢先やさき、彼かれは財布さいふを忘わすれるか忘わすれないかのうちに、気きづいた。
Just as he was about to depart, he noticed he was just about to forget his wallet.
Answer
忘わすれるか忘わすれないかのうちに