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Formation: V-た form + とたん（に）

〜たとたん（に） says that Y happened right after X, almost at the same instant, and Y is usually sudden or unexpected. X is typically a single, quick action or change. The main clause states something that actually happened, so it is normally past tense. It cannot express the speaker's own deliberate next action, an intention, a request or a command. It is common in both speech and writing. Compare 〜次第, which is used for planned future actions (連絡があり次第、出発します). The N1 patterns 〜や否や, 〜が早いか and 〜なり mean much the same thing but are more literary.

Variants: 〜たとたん、〜たとたんに

Examples

• 窓を開けたとたん、強い風が吹き込んできた。
  The moment I opened the window, a strong wind blew in.
• 家に着いたとたんに、雨が降り出した。
  Just as I got home, it started to rain.
• 彼は有名になったとたん、態度が変わった。
  As soon as he became famous, his attitude changed.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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