次第 (shidai) — As Soon As

Meaning & Usage

The grammar pattern 次第 (shidai) means "as soon as" or "upon completion of" an action. It signals that a second action or event will immediately follow the first. This pattern is often used in formal situations, like business communication, announcements, or official statements, to convey a clear and prompt intention or plan. It emphasizes that there will be no delay between finishing the first action and starting the second.

Consider 次第 a strong commitment to immediate follow-up. It's more than a casual "when X happens, Y will happen"; it's "once X is done, Y is the definite next step." This nuance conveys efficiency, preparedness, and often politeness, especially when you're giving information or making a request. For example, a common phrase is 「確認かくにんし次第しだい、ご連絡れんらくいたします。」 ("As soon as I confirm, I will contact you.") This shows responsibility and promptness.

While English uses phrases like "as soon as," "immediately after," or "upon completion of," 次第 carries a slightly more formal and proactive tone. It typically indicates that the speaker or the subject has a planned action that will occur without delay once a specific condition is met. You'll rarely hear it for spontaneous, uncontrollable events or for describing things that happened in the past. The action that follows 次第 is usually volitional, a request, or a statement of future intent.

A helpful way to think about 次第 is to imagine a clear, predefined sequence of events. Event A must happen first. As soon as Event A concludes, Event B is automatically triggered or initiated. This implies a sense of structure and planning, making it highly suitable for professional settings where clarity and predictability are valued.

Structure & Formation

Forming sentences with 次第 (shidai) is straightforward: you simply attach it to the ます-stem of a verb. It generally does not connect to nouns or adjectives when it means "as soon as." (Note: 次第 also has other meanings, such as "depending on" or "it's up to," which do connect to nouns. However, these are typically N2/N1 level grammar points and are not covered here by the N3 "As Soon As" meaning.)

Important Note: The verb before 次第 must always be in its ます-stem form. It describes the action that needs to be completed first. The action that follows 次第 is typically in the future tense, expressing volition, a request, or a command.

Example Sentences

Business & Announcements

Personal Intent & Requests

General Situations (Formal)

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using with plain form or past tense verbs

次第 only connects to the ます-stem of a verb. Using it with a dictionary form, て-form, or past tense (た-form) is incorrect for the "as soon as" meaning.

❌ 家いえに帰るかえる次第しだい、連絡れんらくします。

✅ 家いえに帰りかえり次第しだい、連絡れんらくします。

Explanation: Always use the ます-stem of the verb before 次第. For example, 「帰るかえる」 is the dictionary form, while 「帰りかえり」 is the ます-stem of 「帰りますかえります」.

Mistake 2: Using for spontaneous or uncontrolled past events

次第 implies a planned or volitional action following the completion of another action. It's not typically used for natural occurrences or things that happened spontaneously in the past, where there was no intent involved.

❌ 電車でんしゃを降おり次第しだい、雨あめが降ふってきた。

✅ 電車でんしゃを降おりたらすぐに、雨あめが降ふってきた。

Explanation: The rain falling is a natural event, not a planned action immediately following getting off the train. For such cases, more general "as soon as" patterns like ～たらすぐに or ～とすぐに are more appropriate. Remember, 次第 is reserved for expressing intent or a planned sequence of events.

Mistake 3: Using in highly casual conversation

While Japanese offers many ways to say "as soon as," 次第 maintains a relatively formal tone. Using it in very casual conversation among close friends might sound stiff or overly polite.

❌ 宿題しゅくだい終わりおわり次第しだい、ゲームしよ！

✅ 宿題しゅくだい終わったらおわったら、ゲームしよ！

Explanation: For casual settings, ～たら、すぐに or simply ～たら is much more natural. 次第 implies a level of formality or a professional commitment that can feel out of place in relaxed interactions.

Mistake 4: Not following with a volitional expression or request

The clause following 次第 typically expresses the speaker's volition, a request, a command, or an announcement of a future action. It's unusual to follow it with a pure statement of fact or an uncontrollable event.

❌ 薬くすりを飲のみ次第しだい、眠くねむくなります。

✅ 薬くすりを飲のんだらすぐに、眠くねむくなります。

Explanation: Becoming sleepy is a natural bodily reaction, not a volitional action or a request. Therefore, 次第 isn't suitable here. Using ～たらすぐに emphasizes the immediate consequence of an action without implying volition.

Cultural Notes

In Japanese business culture, punctuality, efficiency, and clear communication are highly valued. 次第 plays a significant role in conveying these values. When a Japanese speaker says 「〜し次第しだい、ご連絡れんらくいたします」, it's more than just a statement of fact. It's a promise of prompt action and a demonstration of responsibility. This phrase signifies that the speaker understands the importance of the next step and will ensure it happens without unnecessary delay.

You'll frequently encounter this pattern in emails, official announcements, and customer service interactions. For example, a company might use it to inform customers about the status of an order: 「発送はっそうし次第しだい、お客様きゃくさまに追跡ついせき番号ばんごうをご連絡れんらくいたします。」 (As soon as we ship, we will notify the customer of the tracking number.) This sets a clear expectation and reduces uncertainty for the customer.

Additionally, 次第 can politely urge someone to take action. For instance, in a workplace, a superior might say 「報告書ほうこくしょができ次第しだい、提出ていしゅつしてください。」 (As soon as the report is done, please submit it.) This phrasing is direct yet maintains a level of formality and expectation, rather than a blunt command.

Related Grammar Points

• Wakeda: That's Why, No Wonder, It Means That (Grammar N3)
• Uchi ni: While / Before It Changes (Grammar N3)
• Nuki de (ぬきで) — Without, Leaving Out (Grammar N3)
• It's Been Decided/Scheduled: ことになっている (Grammar N3)
• Not Necessarily (Grammar N3)
• Tsui de ni: While At It, Taking The Opportunity (Grammar N3)

JLPT Tips

When you encounter 次第 (shidai) on the JLPT N3 exam, it's essential to pay close attention to the context and the nature of the verbs used. Remember that its primary meaning at this level is "as soon as," and it typically implies a planned, volitional action or an official announcement that will follow immediately upon the completion of a preceding action.

Look for clues in the surrounding sentences. If the sentence is formal and expresses a clear intent, a request, or a command in the latter part, 次第 is very likely the correct choice. For example, if the subsequent action is 「〜します」 (I will do), 「〜してください」 (Please do), or 「〜いたします」 (I humbly will do), it strongly suggests 次第 is appropriate.

Conversely, if the sentence describes a natural phenomenon, a past event with no specific intent, or a highly casual conversation, 次第 is probably not the best fit. In such cases, other "as soon as" expressions like ～たらすぐに or ～とすぐに might be more suitable. Watch out for common distractors in multiple-choice questions: they might present a non-volitional follow-up action to trick you into choosing 次第.

Always double-check the verb form preceding 次第. It must be the ます-stem. Any other form (dictionary, plain past, or て-form) would be incorrect for the "as soon as" meaning of 次第. By understanding its specific nuance of formality and volitional implication, you can confidently identify and use 次第 correctly on the JLPT N3.