が早いか (ga-hayai-ka): No sooner than; the instant
〜が早いか (ga-hayai-ka)
Meaning
No sooner than; the instant
Formation and usage
V dictionary／Vた + が早いか
Notation: N = noun; V dictionary = dictionary-form verb; V stem = the stem before ます; plain clause = plain-form clause; negative stem = the form before ない. Follow the attachment shown above.
Explanation
Describes near-simultaneous actions in a narrative, not an instruction about what to do next.
Examples
会議が終わるが早いか、彼は会場を飛び出した。
The instant the meeting ended, he rushed out of the venue.
試験が終わるが早いか、彼は会場を飛び出した。
The instant the exam ended, he rushed out of the venue.
研修が終わるが早いか、彼は会場を飛び出した。
The instant the training session ended, he rushed out of the venue.
発表会が終わるが早いか、彼は会場を飛び出した。
The instant the presentation event ended, he rushed out of the venue.
面接が終わるが早いか、彼は会場を飛び出した。
The instant the interview ended, he rushed out of the venue.
How related patterns differ
が早いか, なり, and や否や narrate an immediate following event. か～ないかのうちに suggests the first may not yet have finished. そばから often describes an action being repeated or undone, rather than simply a sequence.