そばから
(Soba kara)
as soon as / immediately after (with repeated undoing).
Connection rules
- ＋V plain / V-た + そばから.
- ＋Repetitive / futile effort — the main clause undoes the X action.
- ＋Common in frustration / exasperation: 教えたそばから忘れる ('as soon as I teach him, he forgets').
Examples
1.
教えたそばから忘れてしまう。
Oshie ta soba kara wasure te shimau.
He forgets as soon as I teach him.
「as soon as / immediately after (with repeated undoing)」
2.
片付けたそばから、子供が散らかす。
Katazuke ta soba kara, kodomo ga chirakasu.
As soon as I clean up, the children make a mess.
「as soon as / immediately after (with repeated undoing)」
Practice
As soon as I tidy up, the children make a mess.
部屋を___、子供たちが散らかしてしまう。
Romaji also accepted