〜た途端(に)

The Moment/as Soon as

Level 4Sounds Like tatotan(ni)

Verb (た-form) + 途端(に) = 'The moment...' or 'As soon as...'

How It Works

The grammar pattern 〜た途端(に) is used to express that something happened immediately after a specific action was completed.

1. Structure:
It only attaches to the past tense (た-form) of a verb. The particle に is optional but very common in spoken and written Japanese.

2. The Nuance of Surprise:
Unlike other 'as soon as' patterns, 〜た途端(に) carries a strong nuance of unexpectedness. Because of this, the second clause usually describes a natural reaction, a sudden change in state, or an event the speaker didn't control.

3. Restrictions:

  • Momentary Verbs Only: The first verb must be a momentary action (like 立つ（たつ）'to stand' or 開ける（あける）'to open'), not a continuous state or long process.
  • No Intentions or Deliberate Actions: The second clause cannot be a command, a request, or the speaker's own intentional action (whether past or future). For example, you cannot say 'As soon as I got home, I (deliberately) ate dinner' using this pattern.
  • Subject Difference: The subject of the first clause and the second clause can be different (e.g., 'As soon as I opened the door, the cat ran out').
  • It is almost always used to describe something that has already happened (past tense).
  • It is frequently used with verbs of perception (seeing, hearing) or physical changes (falling asleep, changing color).

Examples (4)

  1. 窓を開けた途端、強い風が入ってきた。

    The moment I opened the window, a strong wind blew in.

    Word by Word: Window (object) opened moment, strong wind entered.

    This shows a sudden, natural consequence that happened immediately after the action of opening the window.

  2. 犯人は警官の姿を見たとたん、逃げ出した。

    The criminal ran away the moment he saw the policeman.

    Word by Word: Criminal (topic) policeman's figure saw moment, ran away.

    The second action (running away) is an immediate, reflexive reaction to the first action (seeing the police).

  3. ベッドに入ったとたんに、眠ってしまった。

    The instant I got into bed, I fell asleep.

    Word by Word: Bed into entered moment, fell asleep (completely).

    Using 〜てしまった emphasizes the unintentional and sudden nature of falling asleep.

  4. お酒を飲んだ途端、顔が赤くなった。

    The moment I drank alcohol, my face turned red.

    Word by Word: Alcohol (object) drank moment, face red became.

    This describes a sudden physical change that occurs immediately after the trigger.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the pattern for intentional actions or deliberate choices by the speaker.

    家に着いた途端、晩ご飯を食べた。
    家に着いた途端、電話が鳴った。

    〜た途端(に) is used for unexpected events or natural reactions. It cannot be used for the speaker's own deliberate, intentional actions like 'eating dinner.' For intentional sequences, use 〜てから or 〜たらすぐ.

  • Using the pattern for commands, requests, or future plans.

    家に帰った途端、宿題をします。
    家に帰ったらすぐに、宿題をします。

    〜た途端 cannot be used for things you plan to do or for giving orders. Since doing homework is an intentional act and a future plan, you should use 〜たらすぐに instead.

  • Using the dictionary form instead of the past tense (た-form).

    ベルが鳴る途端に、外へ出た。
    ベルが鳴った途端に、外へ出た。

    This pattern requires the verb to be in the past tense (た-form) because it describes the completion of the first action before the second one triggers.

How It Connects

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〜た途端(に)Level 4The Moment/as Soon as

Learn This First

To understand 〜た途端(に), you must first be comfortable with the plain past tense (た-form) of verbs, as this pattern is always attached to it. It also helps to understand how the particle 'に' marks specific points in time and how basic sequential structures like '〜た後で' function, as this pattern is a more specialized version of an immediate sequence.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

途端に途端