This means that right after you do something, something else happens. It often feels like the second thing makes the first thing useless.
Verb [た-form] + そばからPrimary
Verb [dictionary form] + そばから
This means that right after you do something, something else happens. It often feels like the second thing makes the first thing useless.
子供がおもちゃを片付けたそばから、また散らかしていく。
As soon as the kids put away their toys, they start making a mess again.
新しい単語を覚えるそばから忘れてしまって、テストの点が悪かった。
I kept forgetting new words as soon as I learned them, so my test score was bad.
謝るそばから同じ間違いを繰り返していては、誰も信用してくれないよ。
If you keep repeating the same mistake as soon as you apologize, no one is going to trust you.
お客様からの問い合わせに返信するそばから、また新しいメールが届きます。
As soon as I reply to a customer inquiry, another new email arrives.
彼は稼ぐそばから全部使ってしまう、貯金が全くない人だ。
He's the type of person who spends everything as soon as he earns it; he has no savings at all.
This phrase shows a frustrating circle. You do something, and right away, it gets undone. It feels like your effort is wasted. It's like trying to fill a bucket with a hole.
This is different from '〜たとたん(に)'. '〜たとたん(に)' is for one surprising event. It happens right after another. '〜そばから' is for things that happen again and again. The second thing always undoes the first. This makes you feel annoyed or frustrated.
Don't use this when you want to say something good or planned. For example, you cannot say "Let's save money as soon as it comes in."
Contrasts with(7)
Less formal alternatives(7)
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