At a glance
Verb + そばから means "no sooner do I do something than it is undone", "as soon as". It describes a situation that repeats, where a second action quickly cancels the first. It usually expresses frustration.
Verb (dictionary form) + そばから
Verb (た-form) + そばから
掃除するそばから、子どもが部屋を汚す。 No sooner do I clean than the kids make the room dirty again.
How to form it
| Attaches to | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| う-verb dictionary form | 聞くそばから | as soon as I hear |
| う-verb た-form | 聞いたそばから | as soon as I've heard |
| る-verb | 片付けるそばから | as soon as I tidy up |
| する verb | 掃除したそばから | as soon as I've cleaned |
| Noun, い-adj, な-adj | Not used |
Register: used in speech and writing. It sounds more formal than すぐ.