〜なり (~nari) — as soon as ~ (and then, unexpectedly…)
Someone does one thing and at once does another, surprising thing — 'wait, why?'
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Picture this: your husband comes home from work and, without even saying 'I'm back', goes straight to bed.
- In Japanese: 「夫は家に帰るなり、何も言わずに寝てしまった」.
Meaning
- The same person did one thing and at once did another, and that second action surprised whoever was watching.
- Both halves have the same subject, and the second half is something that person does on purpose (cried, started shouting, called someone, went to sleep).
How to attach
Verb dictionary form + 「なり」— even for a past event it is 「帰るなり」, not 「帰ったなり」.
Versus what you know
N3With 「〜たとたん」the subjects can differ: in 「ドアを開けたとたん、犬が飛び出してきた」I open the door and the dog runs out — its dash just happened. Not so with 「なり」.
Watch out
- It is mostly used to describe other people's behaviour — 「私は家に帰るなり寝た」sounds odd.
- No request, wish or plan after it.
Also
The doubled 「〜なり〜なり」is a different grammar point — we'll learn it later.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
夫は家に帰るなり、何も言わずに寝てしまった。
おっとはいえにかえるなり、なにもいわずにねてしまった。
As soon as my husband got home, he went to bed without a word.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 帰る = to go home → even though it's past, attach 「なり」 to the 辞書形 → then the unexpected thing the same 夫 did: 何も言わずに寝てしまった (went to sleep without saying anything).
母は空港で私を見つけるなり、走ってきて抱きしめた。
はははくうこうでわたしをみつけるなり、はしってきてだきしめた。
The moment my mother spotted me at the airport, she ran over and hugged me.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 見つける = to find, to spot → attach 「なり」 → then what the same 母 did at once: 走ってきて抱きしめた (came running and hugged me). The subject on both sides is 母.
客はラーメンを一口食べるなり、店長を呼んだ。
きゃくはラーメンをいちくちたべるなり、てんちょうをよんだ。
The customer had barely taken one bite of the ramen before calling for the manager.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 一口食べる = to take one bite → attach 「なり」 → then the unexpected thing the same 客 did: 店長を呼んだ (called the manager — leaving you wondering 'what happened?').
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「部長は席に＿、大きなため息をついた。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Which form, even for a past event?
Dictionary form + なり: 着くなり = as soon as he sat down. Then the same 部長's action: ため息をついた.
In which sentence is 「なり」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Do both halves have the same subject?
With なり both halves need the same subject. The person opens the door, the dog runs out — different subjects, so say 「開けたとたん」.
「窓を＿、強い風が入ってきた。」— which is most natural?
💡 Hint: The wind came in by itself — a different subject.
Different subject and something that just happened → 「〜たとたん」. なり needs a deliberate action by the same person.
Your score: /3