なり means as soon as; right after ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to emphasize that the moment one action occurs, another follows immediately — often with a sense of surprise, urgency, or automatic reaction.
This grammar point appears in literary narratives, essays, and formal speech, and occasionally in dramatic everyday conversation. If you want to convey that something happened without a moment’s hesitation, なり is a sharp, precise tool to have in your toolkit.
What does なり mean?
Use なり when you want to show that as soon as one action takes place, another action happens right away, with virtually no gap. The second action is often an instinctive or immediate response, and the whole sentence carries a nuance of speed or lack of delay.
Natural translations include:
- as soon as
- right after
- the moment that ~
- no sooner than ~
Notice the vivid, almost cinematic feel — the second clause often surprises or reveals a quick reaction. In English, you might choose “the moment he arrived, he…” or “she had barely finished speaking when…”.
How to form なり
Attach なり directly to the dictionary form (辞書形) of a verb. There is no tense change and no additional particle between the verb and なり — the pattern remains constant regardless of the overall tense of the sentence.
Examples of the pattern:
- 着くなり
- 見るなり
- 聞くなり
- 帰るなり
- 始めるなり
The following clause uses the tense appropriate to the overall meaning. If the whole event is in the past, the second verb takes the past tense; if it’s a hypothetical or general statement, the non-past is used.
Important: the subject of both actions is usually the same person (or closely related). When the subject changes unexpectedly, the sentence can feel unnatural; なり works best when the same actor performs both the trigger action and the immediate follow-up.
When is なり used?
Use なり in situations like:
- Narrating a story where a character reacts instantly to a new situation
- Expressing surprise at how quickly someone acted
- Describing a sudden, unhesitating response (e.g., as soon as the boss left, everyone relaxed)
- Conveying that an action was nearly simultaneous with its trigger
Tone and register:
- Slightly formal, literary, but not stiff — common in written Japanese (novels, articles, essays)
- In spoken Japanese, it adds dramatic emphasis and is used in anecdotes
- Not typically used for mundane habitual actions (see nuance below)
なり example sentences
After reading each sentence, ask yourself what effect なり creates — a sense of no delay, an almost impulsive reaction. That’s more memorable than a one-word translation.
Nuance of なり
The core nuance is immediacy and a lack of hesitation. なり paints a picture of an action that happens automatically, almost reflexively, the very instant the condition is met. Unlike many other “as soon as” patterns, なり is usually reserved for a specific, one-off event, not a repeating routine.
This is important because learners often extend the “immediate” meaning to any quick sequence. なり implies that the reaction is almost surprising, or that the situation was set up precisely for that instant response. A sentence like “朝起きるなり、コーヒーを飲む” sounds as if you are describing a dramatic, one-time event — not a morning routine. Use なり when the immediacy is the point of the story.
なり vs 〜や否や
Both なり and 〜や否や (ya ina ya) express that one action follows another without delay, and both are N1-level, literary patterns. However, their nuances and usage environments differ.
If you’re telling a personal story and want to highlight the speed of your own reaction, なり feels more natural. If you’re writing a formal report about an event, や否や might be the safer literary choice.
Common mistakes with なり
A good drill: take one of your correct なり sentences and try substituting や否や, が早いか, or 〜たとたんに. Understanding why なり fits or doesn’t fit teaches you more than a list of rules.
Is なり on the JLPT?
なり is a solid N1 pattern. It appears in reading comprehension passages, often as part of a list of “as soon as” constructions that test your ability to parse simultaneous or sequential actions.
Frequency: Occasional in vocabulary/grammar sections and reading. Expect to see it alongside other N1 literary patterns.
In multiple-choice questions, wrong answer choices may use the た-form or mix up なり with homophonous patterns like なりに・なりの (in one’s own way). Always confirm the context and the form of the preceding word.
Practice questions for なり
Keep your first sentences simple, then gradually layer in more context. Focus on capturing the “zero delay” feeling.
Learning path for なり
The goal is not just to recognize なり on the test — it’s to feel when this punchy, instantaneous transition belongs in your own Japanese.
Related grammar to review next
- なりなり — a different なり used to enumerate alternatives (“such as … and …”)
- なりに・なりの — “in one’s own way; considering who/what it is”
- なりとも — “even if; at least”; adds a concessive tone
- ならいざしらず・はいざしらず — “I don’t know about …, but …”; a contrastive pattern that also pairs with conditionals
Learn なり with Hane
If you want to review なり together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese grammar in short, focused sessions. Internalize these high-level connections one pattern at a time.
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FAQ about なり
What does なり (nari) mean in Japanese?
なり (nari) means “as soon as; right after”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. Use なり when you want to show that as soon as one action takes place, another action happens right away, with virtually no gap. The second action is often an instinctive or immediate response, and the whole sentence carries a nuance of speed or lack of delay.
How do you form なり (nari)?
Attach なり directly to the dictionary form (辞書形) of a verb. There is no tense change and no additional particle between the verb and なり — the pattern remains constant regardless of the overall tense of the sentence.
What is the difference between なり and 〜や否や?
なり: Immediate reaction of the same subject; vivid and slightly emphatic. 〜や否や: As soon as; no sooner than; strictly written, formal.
What is an example sentence with なり (nari)?
彼は家に着くなり鞄を置いて、すぐに出かけた。 — As soon as he got home, he put down his bag and immediately went out again.