「～そばから」- Just After
Explanation
～そばから is a unique Japanese expression. It is formed by adding そばから to the stem or dictionary form of a verb, and it is used to indicate that immediately after one action ends, another action occurs. This expression carries a nuance of something happening repeatedly. Note that while そばから originally means "next to," here it is extended to mean an action that happens right after the previous one.
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Verb Stem/Dictionary Form + そばから | Verb Stem/Dictionary Form + そばから | Indicates that immediately after one action ends, another action occurs, with a sense of repetition. |
Basic Usage
～そばから is often used to describe unfavorable situations, where the subsequent action is usually something unpleasant. This expression emphasizes the continuity and repetition of actions, suggesting that the phenomenon has happened multiple times in the past and may continue to happen.
Examples
食事 したそばから食事 したことを忘 れる。- Shokuji shita soba kara shokuji shita koto o wasureru.
- Right after eating, I forget that I just ate.
気 をつけてね」と言 ったそばから怪我 をした。- "Ki o tsukete ne" to itta soba kara kega o shita.
- Right after saying "Be careful," I got injured.
Deep Dive
～そばから describes a situation where one action has just occurred, and immediately another action follows. The subsequent action is usually something negative, and this situation is not a one-time occurrence but something that happens repeatedly.
Comparison and Differences
Differences with Similar Grammar Points
～そばから and ～とたん（に） can be similar in some contexts, but they have distinct differences. ～とたん（に） indicates that immediately after one action occurs, another action follows, but it doesn't necessarily imply repetition. On the other hand, ～そばから emphasizes the repetition and frequency of the actions.
| Expression | Usage | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ～そばから | Emphasizes repetition and frequency | Right after opening the door, the cat jumps out again. | |
| ～とたん（に） | Indicates immediate occurrence | As soon as I opened the door, the cat jumped out. |
Real-Life Scenarios
Through dialogue examples and real-life scenarios, you can better understand and master the usage of ～そばから.
Dialogue Examples
Example 1
- A：また
遅刻 したの？もう遅刻 しないと言 ったそばから遅刻してるんだから。 - B：ごめん、
寝坊 しちゃった。 - A：Mata chikoku shita no? Mou chikoku shinai to itta soba kara chikoku shiteru n da kara.
- B：Gomen, nebō shichatta.
- A：You're late again? Right after you said you wouldn't be late, you're late.
- B：Sorry, I overslept.
Example 2
- A：
覚 えたそばから忘 れていく。どうしよう？ - B：それなら、しっかり
メモ を取 るのがいいよ。 - A：Oboeta soba kara wasurete iku. Dō shiyō?
- B：Sore nara, shikkari memo o toru no ga ii yo.
- A：Right after I learn something, I start forgetting it. What should I do?
- B：In that case, it's good to take thorough notes.
Real-Life Scenarios
注意 してくださいと言 われたそばから痴漢 に遭 った。- Chūi shite kudasai to iwareta soba kara chikan ni atta.
- Right after being told to be careful, I encountered a molester.
洗車 したそばから鳥 の糞 が落 ちてきた。- Sensha shita soba kara tori no fun ga ochite kita.
- Right after washing the car, bird droppings fell on it.
Summary
～そばから is a Japanese grammatical structure used to express that immediately after one action ends, another action occurs. It is often used to describe unfavorable situations. Its uniqueness lies in emphasizing the repetition and frequency of actions. By comparing it with similar grammar points and using examples and dialogues, you can better grasp the usage of this grammar point.