- JLPT N2
(か)とおもうと
NikoJLPT N2:（か）と思うと《no sooner than; just when; as soon as》
(か)と思うと is used when expressing that Event B happens right after Event A.
It is typically used for contrast, emphasizing that Event B happened sooner than one would expect, is undesirable, etc.
An example:
やっと台風が過ぎたかと思うと、今度は大雪が降ってきた。
やっと たいふう が すぎた かとおもうと、 こんど は おおゆき が ふって きた。
Just when the typhoon had finally passed, it started snowing a bunch.
Event A = the typhoon finally passed
Event B = it started snowing heavily
↓ ↓
the typhoon finally passed かと思うと it started snowing heavily
↓ ↓
Just when the typhoon had finally passed, it started snowing a bunch.
(I thought that "a bunch" sounded more natural than "heavily" here. Maybe we even could have put something like, "we got heavy [a bunch of] snow.")
It should be noted that both Event A and Event B are things that actually happen(ed).
Accordingly, the phrase after（か）と思うと will not be a command, request, volitional statement, etc.
You also can't use（か）と思うと when Event B is something that you (=the speaker) did [do].
Since the following sentence is volitional (and Event B is something the speaker will do) it doesn't make sense:
✕ シャワーを浴びたと思うと、すぐ寝よう。
✕ シャワー を あびた とおもうと、 すぐ ねよう。
✕ No sooner did I take a shower than I think I’ll go to sleep.
✕ Literally: “shower + を + bathed / basked in + no sooner than, + right away + let’s sleep.”
↑ Note that the か was removed from かと思うと. As you'll see in a couple of our later examples, including か is optional.
👷 Construction 👷
Just put a verb in plain past tense before（か）と思うと, and you'll be good to go:
V た ＋（か）と思うと
I love it when the construction is simple.
We don't necessarily have to be talking about things that happened in the past, by the way:
うちの子はアルバイトを始めたかと思うと、いつもすぐやめてしまう。
うち の こ は アルバイト を はじめた かとおもうと、 いつも すぐ やめてしまう。
As soon as my daughter [son] gets a job, she [he] always ends up quitting right away.
The verb 思う can be used in conditional forms other than 思うと, too.
Specifically, you're likely to come across（か）と思ったら：
妻は出かけたと思ったら、１０分もしないうちに帰ってきた。
つま は でかけた とおもったら、 じゅっぷん も しない うち に かえって きた。
My wife went out, but then not ten minutes later she was back home.
Last example, yo:
彼は明子さんと別れたかと思ったら、もう春菜さんと付き合っている。
かれ は あきこさん と わかれた かとおもったら、 もう はるなさん と つきあっている。
No sooner had he broken up with Akiko-san than he was already dating Haruna-san.
Done!
We'll see a few other grammar points that are very similar to（か）と思うと in some future lessons, too.
How very exciting. *_*
Niko
