～たとたん(に)
The instant one event is followed by another
You’ll be able to describe a sudden result that happens immediately after another action or change.
ドアを開けたとたん、涼しい風が入ってきました。
doa o aketa totan, suzushii kaze ga haitte kimashita.
What do you think this sentence means?
The instant I opened the door, a cool breeze came in.
The instant something happens
～たとたん(に) means “the instant that.” A sudden event follows immediately after the first completed action. The second event is usually unplanned or outside the speaker’s control, so this pattern is not used for deliberate plans or requests.
家に帰ったとたん、雨が降り出しました。
ie ni kaetta totan, ame ga furidashimashita.
The moment I got home, it started to rain.
名前を呼ばれたとたんに、顔が赤くなりました。
namae o yobareta totan ni, kao ga akaku narimashita.
The moment my name was called, my face turned red.
Use the past plain form
Attach ～とたん(に) to the past plain form of a verb. The first action is complete, and the second event happens with virtually no interval.
座ったとたんに、眠くなりました。
suwatta totan ni, nemuku narimashita.
The moment I sat down, I became sleepy.
電車が止まったとたん、みんな立ち上がりました。
densha ga tomatta totan, minna tachiagarimashita.
As soon as the train stopped, everyone stood up.
駅を出たとたん、強い風で傘が壊れてしまった。
eki o deta totan, tsuyoi kaze de kasa ga kowarete shimatta.
The moment I left the station, my umbrella broke in the strong wind.
新しい薬を飲んだとたん、体がかゆくなった。
atarashii kusuri o nonda totan, karada ga kayuku natta.
The moment I took the new medicine, my body started to itch.
急に立ち上がったとたんに、めまいがしました。
kyuu ni tachiagatta totan ni, memai ga shimashita.
The instant I stood up suddenly, I felt dizzy.
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