as soon as; no sooner than

が早いか means that almost the instant one action happened, the next followed. Attach it to a verb's dictionary form. The second clause describes a near-simultaneous, often surprising reaction, and is always in the past tense.

Examples

• 彼かれは席せきに着つくが早はやいか、料理りょうりを注文ちゅうもんした。

  Kare wa seki ni tsuku ga hayai ka, ryouri o chuumon shita.

  No sooner had he sat down than he ordered food.

• ベルが鳴なるが早はやいか、生徒せいとたちは教室きょうしつを飛とび出だした。

  Beru ga naru ga hayai ka, seitotachi wa kyoushitsu o tobidashita.

  The moment the bell rang, the students dashed out of the classroom.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 彼 he, him
• 席 seat
• 着く to arrive
• 早い early
• 料理 cooking; dish
• 注文 order

Related patterns · Immediacy and timing

• 〜なり as soon as; the moment
• 〜そばから no sooner than; as fast as (repeatedly)
• 〜や否や as soon as; the instant
• 〜を皮切りに starting with; beginning from