-자마자

Build it

When to use it

Attach -자마자 to any verb stem: 도착하자마자, 먹자마자, 만들자마자. Nothing changes, ㄹ stays, and tense goes on the final verb only.

The two clauses may have different subjects: 제가 나가자마자 비가 왔어요. This sets it apart from -(으)면서, which requires one.

It carries no cause and no condition — only immediacy. And that immediacy is real: if any noticeable time separates the two events, Korean uses -(으)ㄴ 후에 or -고 instead.

Commands and suggestions may follow, which not every connector allows: 도착하자마자 전화하세요.

How to attach it

In use

1. 집에 도착하자마자 전화하세요.

   Call me as soon as you get home.

2. 아침에 일어나자마자 물을 마셔요.

   I drink water as soon as I get up.

3. 제가 나가자마자 비가 왔어요.

   It started raining the moment I went out.

4. 수업이 끝나자마자 집에 갔어요.

   I went home as soon as class ended.

5. 그 말을 듣자마자 웃음이 나왔어요.

   I laughed the instant I heard that.

6. 음식을 만들자마자 다 먹었어요.

   We ate it all as soon as the food was made.

Compared with

• -고 나서

  -고 나서 says the first action finished before the second began; -자마자 says the second followed instantly. Only -자마자 conveys immediacy.

  밥을 먹고 나서 나갔어요. (ate, then left)  /  밥을 먹자마자 나갔어요. (left the instant I finished)

• -는 대로

  Very close in meaning, but -는 대로 leans toward future arrangements and instructions. -자마자 works freely with past events.

  도착하자마자 전화했어요. (called on arrival)  /  도착하는 대로 전화할게요. (I’ll call as soon as I arrive)

• -(으)면서

  -(으)면서 has the two actions overlapping and needs one subject; -자마자 has them in sequence and allows two.

  나가면서 전화했어요. (called while leaving)  /  나가자마자 전화했어요. (called right after leaving)

Watch out

• 집에 갔자마자 잤어요.

  집에 가자마자 잤어요.

  -자마자 never carries tense. The past is expressed once, on the final verb.

• 졸업하자마자 삼 년 후에 취직했어요.

  졸업하고 삼 년 후에 취직했어요.

  -자마자 means no gap at all. Once a period of time separates the events, use -고 or -(으)ㄴ 후에.

• 도착하자마자에 전화하세요.

  도착하자마자 전화하세요.

  -자마자 is a complete ending and takes no particle after it.

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