そばから (soba-kara): As soon as; no sooner than
～そばから (soba-kara)
Meaning
As soon as; no sooner than
Formation and usage
V dictionary／Vた + そばから
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
An action is immediately repeated or undone, often frustratingly, rather than just any two successive events.
Examples
資料を整理するそばから、また散らかされる。
No sooner do I organize the documents than it is made untidy again.
報告書を整理するそばから、また散らかされる。
No sooner do I organize the report than it is made untidy again.
説明書を整理するそばから、また散らかされる。
No sooner do I organize the instructions than it is made untidy again.
計画書を整理するそばから、また散らかされる。
No sooner do I organize the written plan than it is made untidy again.
申込書を整理するそばから、また散らかされる。
No sooner do I organize the application form than it is made untidy again.
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.