जैसे ही (jaise hii)
conjunction
A correlative conjunction meaning 'as soon as' -- it sets up a time-sequence clause, usually paired with वैसे ही (vaise hii) or तभी (tabhii) in the following clause. Built from जैसे (jaise, 'like/as') plus the emphatic ही (hii).
Sense
1
:
as soon as
conjunction Introduces the first clause of a two-clause sequence: जैसे ही + clause 1, (वैसे ही/तभी) + clause 2. The second clause often starts with वैसे ही (vaise hii) or तभी (tabhii), though these are frequently dropped in casual speech.
Synonyms: जब भी (jab bhii, whenever, meaning scope differs slightly), ज्योंही (jyonhii, literary variant)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in Delhi households and offices for describing chain-reaction events: जैसे ही बारिश शुरू हुई, बिजली चली गई (jaise hii baarish shuroo huii, bijlii chalii gaii, 'as soon as the rain started, the power went out') -- a very familiar monsoon-season sentence shape. Note the family resemblance to जैसे (jaise, 'like/as') used elsewhere for comparisons; ही (hii) here just sharpens the immediacy, the same way it does in अभी ही (abhii hii, 'just now').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often forget that the verb in the जैसे ही (jaise hii) clause is usually in the perfective/past form even when describing a general or future habitual sequence, e.g. जैसे ही वह आया (jaise hii vah aayaa, 'as soon as he arrived') -- not a present or future form. 2) Some learners try to translate 'as soon as' word-for-word using ज्योंही (jyonhii) as the default, when जैसे ही (jaise hii) is the far more common everyday choice.
Sample Sentences:
जैसे ही बारिश शुरू हुई, बिजली चली गई।
As soon as the rain started, the power went out.
(jaise hii baarish shuroo huii, bijlii chalii gaii।)
जैसे ही मैं घर पहुँचूँगा, तुम्हें फोन करूँगा।
As soon as I reach home, I'll call you.
(jaise hii main ghar pahunchoongaa, tumhen phon karoongaa।)
जैसे ही बॉस कमरे में आते हैं, सब चुप हो जाते हैं।
As soon as the boss enters the room, everyone goes quiet.
(jaise hii bos kamre men aate hain, sab chup ho jaate hain।)
जैसे ही ट्रेन प्लेटफ़ॉर्म पर रुकी, लोग दरवाज़ों की तरफ़ भागे।
As soon as the train stopped at the platform, people ran toward the doors.
(jaise hii tren pletform par rukii, log darvaazon kii taraf bhaage।)
जैसे ही खबर आए, मुझे बताना।
As soon as the news comes, let me know.
(jaise hii khabar aae, mujhe bataanaa।)
अगर तुम जैसे ही निकल पड़ते, तो बस मिल जाती।
If you had left the instant you were supposed to, you would have caught the bus.
(agar tum jaise hii nikal padte, to bas mil jaatii।)
जैसे ही परीक्षा का परिणाम घोषित किया गया, छात्र उत्सुकता से वेबसाइट देखने लगे।
As soon as the exam results were declared, students eagerly started checking the website.
(jaise hii pariikshaa kaa parinaam ghoshit kiyaa gayaa, chhaatr utsuktaa se vebsaait dekhne lage।)
जैसे ही सूरज डूबता है, बाज़ार जगमगाने लगता है।
As soon as the sun sets, the market starts to sparkle with lights.
(jaise hii sooraj doobtaa hai, baazaar jagamgaane lagtaa hai।)
जैसे ही मैंने दरवाज़ा खोला, बिल्ली अंदर घुस गई।
As soon as I opened the door, the cat slipped inside.
(jaise hii mainne darvaazaa kholaa, billii andar ghus gaii।)
क्या ऐसा हो सकता है कि जैसे ही वह पहुँचे, मीटिंग शुरू हो जाए?
Could it be arranged that the meeting starts the moment he arrives?
(kyaa aisaa ho saktaa hai ki jaise hii vah pahunche, miiting shuroo ho jaae?)