か〜ないかの内(うち)にRight after, As soon as, Just when, Barely

Structure

Verb［る］+ か + Verb ない^(*) + かのうちに

^(*) The same Verb has to be repeated

Details

About か〜ないかのうちに

か～ないかのうちに is a slightly formal grammar structure used in Japanese to indicate a precise point in time where the action of (A) can not be determined as either being started, or finished. Usually, it highlights the exact moment either before or after (A) commences. This grammar structure is comprised of か, ない, か, の, the noun 内(うち) 'within', and に. Literally, it just means 'while not knowing whether (A) or not (A), (B)'.

The verb that appears before か and ないか must be repeated in this grammar pattern, and may be used in its dictionary form. Standard translations include 'right after (A)', 'as soon as (A)', and 'barely when (A)'.

Additionally, か～ないかのうちに may be used to highlight relatively short periods of time within which something happens. This is usually in regard to some sort of positive or negative occurrence that would not usually be expected to be able to happen so quickly.

Synonyms

Examples

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焦(こ)がすか焦(こ)がさないかの内(うち)に、肉(にく)を取(と)るのが僕(ぼく)の流儀(りゅうぎ)。

My style is to take off the meat just when it starts to burn.

いつも、家(いえ)の戸(と)を開(あ)けるか開(あ)けないかの内(うち)にうちの犬(いぬ)が家(いえ)から飛(と)び出(だ)して顔(かお)をなめる。

As soon as I open the door our dog always jumps out and licks my face.

御馳走(ごちそう)をいただくかいただかないかの内(うち)に、帰(かえ)る時間(じかん)になってしまった。

Just when I was going to be treated, I had to go home (had to pay my own way).

削除(さくじょ)されるかされないかの内(うち)に、自(みずか)ら手(て)を引(ひ)いた方(ほう)がいい。

Just when you are about to be eliminated, it is better to withdraw oneself.

清書(せいしょ)するかしないかの内(うち)に、下書(したが)きを紛失(ふんしつ)してしまいました。

Just as I was about to write a clean copy, I lost my rough draft.

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か〜ないかのうちに – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

nekoyama
へと is similar to へ by itself, but emphasises a bit more that it’s about a direction.
MZa
Ok thank you. I may have never encountered this particles’ combination or it’s the first time I noticed it.
stephane
regarding this example sentence in the lesson :
就活を初めて１週間経つか経たないかのうちに、仕事が見つかった。
In just a week of looking for a new job, I found a job.

confused by this, shouldn’t it be 経つか経たなかったかのうちに？
is this a mistake or does this grammar form require ない absolutely and skip the verb inflection ?