-자마자
As Soon as
-자마자 connects two actions, showing the second one happens immediately after the first one ends. Think of it as 'the moment X happens, Y happens'.
How It Works
The grammar pattern -자마자 is used to link two clauses, indicating that the action in the second clause occurs immediately after the action in the first clause is completed. It carries a strong sense of immediacy, with almost no time gap between the two events.
Usage Rules:
- It attaches directly to the verb stem of the first verb.
- Examples:
- 가다 (to go) → 가 + 자마자 → 가자마자
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 자마자 → 먹자마자
- 끝나다 (to finish) → 끝나 + 자마자 → 끝나자마자
Tense and Subject:
- The tense of the entire sentence is expressed in the final verb of the second clause. The verb with -자마자 always remains in its stem form.
- Correct: 집에 도착하자마자 잤어요. (As soon as I arrived home, I slept.)
- Incorrect: 집에 도착했자마자 잤어요.
- The subject of the two clauses is often the same, but it can be different if the two events are directly and immediately linked.
Comparison with other patterns:
While patterns like -고 나서 or -ㄴ 후에 also mean 'after', -자마자 is unique in its emphasis on the lack of any delay. If there is a time gap, using those other patterns is more appropriate.
Examples (4)
- 집에 도착하자마자 손을 씻었어요.
As soon as I got home, I washed my hands.
Word by Word: Home at arrive as soon as hands washed.
- 수업이 끝나자마자 학생들이 교실을 나갔어요.
As soon as the class ended, the students left the classroom.
Word by Word: Class ending as soon as students the classroom left.
- 그 소식을 듣자마자 눈물이 났어요.
As soon as I heard that news, I cried (tears came out).
Word by Word: That news hear as soon as tears came out.
- 월급을 받자마자 다 써 버렸어요.
As soon as I received my salary, I spent it all.
Word by Word: Salary receive as soon as all use threw away.
The verb 버리다 is used with the -아/어 버리다 pattern to add the nuance that the action was completed, sometimes with a sense of regret or relief.
Common Mistakes
Applying tense to the verb before -자마자.
Not Quite회의가 끝났자마자 보고서를 보냈어요.Better회의가 끝나자마자 보고서를 보냈어요.The tense of the sentence is always indicated by the final verb. The verb attached to -자마자 should always be in its stem form.
Using -자마자 when the two actions are not immediate.
Not Quite어제 서울에 도착하자마자 다음 주에 부산에 갈 거예요.Better어제 서울에 도착했고, 다음 주에 부산에 갈 거예요.-자마자 implies an immediate sequence. For actions separated by a significant time gap, simply connect the sentences with -고 or use a pattern like -ㄴ 후에 (e.g., 서울에 도착한 후에...).
Learn This First
To express 'as soon as', you need immediate sequence patterns and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -고 나서After Doing, And Then
Both mean 'after', but -자마자 emphasizes immediacy with no time gap. -고 나서 simply indicates a sequence and allows for a delay between the two actions.
- -ㄴ 다음에/후에After -ing
Means 'after doing something'. Like -고 나서, it marks a temporal sequence but lacks the strong sense of 'right after' that -자마자 carries. It's a more general way to express 'after'.