刑事けいじが部屋へやに入はいってくるか入はいってこないかのうちに、証拠しょうこの書類しょるいを飲のみ込こんだ。
The cop hadn’t even fully stepped into the room before I swallowed the damn evidence.

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Read the explanation below to understand the nuance of how this grammar structure is used.

This grammar point is all about speed, man. It means “the very second something happens, the next thing goes down immediately after.” It’s like there ain’t even a split second of breathing room between Action A and Action B.

Think of it like this: You know in The Wire when Omar Little steps onto the block, and before his foot even hits the pavement, you hear that “Omar yo!” whistle and the street corner clears out instantly? That’s the vibe. The moment Action A barely finishes—hell, it might not even be 100% done yet—Action B drops like a bad habit. It’s that “blink and you’ll miss it” fast.

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Here is how you hook this pattern up to your verbs, straight up.

Form	Structure	Example	English Translation
Verbs	Dictionary Form + か + Negative (ナイ) Form + かのうちに	言いうか言いわないかのうちに	The very second he said it…

To flip this pattern, you’re gonna take the Dictionary form of your verb, throw a か after it, and then follow that up immediately with the Nai-form (negative) of the exact same verb, capped off with かのうちに. It’s like a verbal double-tap. You’re basically saying, “Did it happen? Did it not happen? It doesn’t matter, because this next shit is already going down!”

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Read and master the example sentences below.

ボスが合図あいずを出だすか出ださないかのうちに、ヒットマンは引ひき金がねを引ひいた。
The very second the boss gave the signal, the hitman pulled the trigger.

サイレンの音おとが聞きこえるか聞きこえないかのうちに、密売みつばい人じんたちは路地ろじに消きえた。
Before the sound of the siren could even fully register, the dealers vanished into the alley.

金かねを数かぞえ終おわるか終おわらないかのうちに、強盗ごうとうはカバンを奪うばい去さった。
He barely finished counting the cash before the robber snatched the bag and dipped.

取調とりしらべ室しつの椅子いすに座すわるか座すわらないかのうちに、彼かれは仲間なかまを裏切うらぎって自白じはくした。
His ass barely hit the chair in the interrogation room before he bitched out and snitched on the whole crew.

刑務所けいむしょの門もんを出でるか出でないかのうちに、彼かれは次つぎの強盗ごうとうの計画けいかくを始はじめた。
He was barely out of the prison gates before he started planning the next heist.

マフィアの裏切うらぎり者ものが口くちを開ひらくか開ひらかないかのうちに、消けされた。
The mafia rat barely opened his mouth before he got iced.

現金げんきん輸送ゆそう車しゃが止とまるか止とまらないかのうちに、武装ぶそう集団しゅうだんが襲おそいかかった。
The armored truck barely came to a halt before the armed crew ambushed it.

密入国みつにゅうこく船せんが海岸かいがんに着つくか着つかないかのうちに、全員ぜんいんが闇やみに紛まぎれて走はしり出だした。
The smuggler boat barely touched the shore before everyone bolted into the dark.

闇やみ医者いしゃが弾丸だんがんを抜ぬき終おわるか終おわらないかのうちに、彼かれは銃じゅうを握にぎりしめた。
The back-alley doctor barely finished pulling the bullet out before this fool grabbed his gun again.

金庫きんこのダイヤルがカチッと鳴なるか鳴ならないかのうちに、泥棒どろぼうは扉とびらを開あけた。
The safe dial barely clicked before the thief yanked the door open.

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Stay dangerous.