N2 Timing, Occasions, and Triggers

~次第しだい: meaning, usage and examples

~次第しだい means: as soon as... / upon...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 到着次第とうちゃくしだい、連絡れんらくします。

   I'll contact you as soon as I arrive.

2. 準備じゅんびができ次第しだい、始はじめます。

   We'll start as soon as preparations are complete.

3. 結果けっかが分わかり次第しだい、お知しらせいたします。

   We will let you know as soon as we have the results.

4. 雨あめがやみ次第しだい、試合しあいを再開さいかいします。

   The game will resume as soon as the rain stops.

When to use it

Use 次第しだい to say that you will do something immediately after another event happens: 結果けっかが分わかり次第しだい、お知しらせいたします (we will let you know as soon as we have the results). It is about future plans and promises, especially in business. The first event is something you are waiting for; the second follows right away.

Nuance

Formal and polite; very common in business emails and announcements. The first clause cannot be in the past, and the whole sentence looks to the future. The second clause is usually the speaker's intention, a promise or a request (連絡れんらくしてください). It is not used to describe past events.

Compare

Compare the casual and past patterns. たらすぐ is the casual equivalent for plans: 着ついたらすぐ電話でんわする. 次第しだい is its polite business version: 到着とうちゃく次第しだいご連絡れんらくします. たとたん describes a past, unexpected event: 外そとに出でたとたん雨あめが降ふった. Separately, Noun + 次第しだいだ means "depends on": 天気てんき次第しだいだ.

Tip: Watch the connection: ます-stem + 次第しだい means "as soon as", but Noun + 次第しだいだ means "depends on". Don't mix them up.