N3 — outside your level filter

か〜ないかのうちに

か〜ないかのうちにka nai ka no uchi niN3neutral

stand + no sooner does one X than — the first isn't even done yet

tatsu ka tatanai kanouchini

no sooner does one X than — the first isn't even done yet

meaning: no sooner does one X than — the first isn't even done yet

Same meaningRelated

ベルが鳴なるか鳴ならないかのうちに、生徒せいとたちは教室きょうしつを飛とび出だした。

beru ga naru ka naranai ka no uchi ni, seitotachi wa kyoushitsu o tobidashita.

Almost before the bell had finished ringing, the students had already dashed out of the classroom. neutral

ドアが開あくか開あかないかのうちに、猫ねこが飛とび出だしてきた。

doa ga aku ka akanai ka no uchi ni, neko ga tobidashite kita.

The cat shot out almost before the door had even opened. neutral

Same meaning4

no sooner does one X than — the two nearly overlap in time

ベルが鳴なるか鳴ならないかのうちに、生徒せいとたちは教室きょうしつを飛とび出だした。
beru ga naru ka naranai ka no uchi ni, seitotachi wa kyoushitsu o tobidashita.
Almost before the bell had finished ringing, the students had already dashed out of the classroom. neutral
ドアが開あくか開あかないかのうちに、猫ねこが飛とび出だしてきた。
doa ga aku ka akanai ka no uchi ni, neko ga tobidashite kita.
The cat shot out almost before the door had even opened. neutral
目めが覚さめるか覚さめないかのうちに、電話でんわが鳴なり出だした。
me ga sameru ka samenai ka no uchi ni, denwa ga naridashita.
The phone started ringing almost before I was even properly awake. neutral

The same verb fills both halves — plain form, then its negative. The
first half can also be た form (駅えきに着ついたか着つかないかのうちに).