かのうちに
(Kano uchi ni)
no sooner (had X) than Y / barely had one Xed when Y.
Connection rules
- ＋V dict + か + same V ない-form + かのうちに + main clause.
- ＋Near-simultaneous events — the main clause event is nearly overlapping.
- ＋More emphatic of simultaneity than 〜たとたん.
Examples
1.
家に着くか着かないかのうちに、雨が降り出した。
Ie ni tsuku ka tsuka nai ka no uchi ni, ame ga furidashi ta.
No sooner had I arrived home than it started to rain.
「no sooner (had X) than Y / barely had one Xed when Y」
2.
ベルが鳴るか鳴らないかのうちに、生徒たちは教室を出た。
Beru ga naru ka nara nai ka no uchi ni, seito tachi wa kyoushitsu o de ta.
No sooner had the bell rung than the students left the classroom.
「no sooner (had X) than Y / barely had one Xed when Y」
Practice
No sooner had the movie finished than the audience stood up.
映画が___、観客は席を立ち始めた。
Romaji also accepted