-자 is a literary connective meaning "as soon as," "upon," or "when." It expresses that one action happens immediately after another, primarily used in written narratives and formal contexts.
Structure
Verb stem + -자
Breakdown:
- -자: Literary connective ending
- Indicates immediate sequence
- Primarily narrative/literary use
Literal meaning: "As soon as [action 1], [action 2]"
Formation Rules
With All Action Verbs
Verb stem + -자:
- 보다 → 보자 (as soon as [I] saw)
- 듣다 → 듣자 (as soon as [I] heard)
- 도착하다 → 도착하자 (as soon as [I] arrived)
- 일어나다 → 일어나자 (as soon as [I] got up)
- 문을 열다 → 문을 열자 (as soon as [I] opened the door)
NOT Used With
Does not work with:
- Adjectives
- Past tense markers
- Future tense
Core Meaning: Immediate Sequence
As Soon As
One action immediately triggers another:
- 집에 도착하자 전화가 왔다 (As soon as I arrived home, the phone rang)
- 문을 열자 고양이가 들어왔다 (As soon as I opened the door, the cat came in)
- 그를 보자 반가웠다 (As soon as I saw him, I was glad)
- 소식을 듣자 달려갔다 (As soon as I heard the news, I rushed over)
Upon
Similar to "upon" in English:
- 눈을 뜨자 아침이었다 (Upon opening my eyes, it was morning)
- 소리를 듣자 뒤돌아봤다 (Upon hearing the sound, I turned around)
- 그 말을 듣자 화가 났다 (Upon hearing those words, I got angry)
Literary/Narrative Use
Common in Stories
Primarily narrative contexts:
- 왕자는 공주를 보자 사랑에 빠졌다 (As soon as the prince saw the princess, he fell in love)
- 마법사가 지팡이를 흔들자 문이 열렸다 (As soon as the wizard waved his wand, the door opened)
- 새벽이 오자 새들이 노래하기 시작했다 (As dawn came, the birds began to sing)
Formal Writing
Written narratives and reports:
- 회의가 시작되자 모두 조용해졌다 (As soon as the meeting started, everyone became quiet)
- 대통령이 도착하자 행사가 시작되었다 (As soon as the president arrived, the event began)
Common Usage Patterns
Immediate Reactions
Quick response to stimulus:
- 그를 보자 놀랐다 (As soon as I saw him, I was surprised)
- 소리를 듣자 깼다 (As soon as I heard the sound, I woke up)
- 문이 열리자 들어갔다 (As soon as the door opened, [I] entered)
Sequential Events
One thing immediately following another:
- 해가 뜨자 출발했다 (As soon as the sun rose, [we] departed)
- 비가 그치자 나갔다 (As soon as the rain stopped, [I] went out)
- 종이 울리자 학생들이 나갔다 (As soon as the bell rang, students left)
Tense
Always Past Context
Used for completed sequences:
- 보자 (as soon as [I] saw - past)
- 듣자 (as soon as [I] heard - past)
Note: Even though there's no past marker, -자 implies past events in narratives
Politeness
Neutral/Narrative
Not marked for politeness:
- -자 itself is neutral
- Politeness comes from the main clause ending
- 도착하자 전화했습니다 (formal)
- 도착하자 전화했어요 (polite)
- 도착하자 전화했어 (casual)
Common Expressions
Story Openings/Events
- 눈을 뜨자 (as soon as [I] opened my eyes)
- 문을 열자 (as soon as [I] opened the door)
- 집에 도착하자 (as soon as [I] arrived home)
- 그를 보자 (as soon as [I] saw him)
Immediate Actions
- 소식을 듣자 (as soon as [I] heard the news)
- 전화를 받자 (as soon as [I] answered the phone)
- 일어나자 (as soon as [I] got up)
- 도착하자 (as soon as [I] arrived)
Natural Events
- 해가 뜨자 (as soon as the sun rose)
- 비가 오자 (as soon as it rained)
- 봄이 오자 (as soon as spring came)
- 밤이 되자 (as soon as night fell)
Comparison with Similar Patterns
-자 vs -자마자
-자: Literary, narrative
- 그를 보자 놀랐다 (As soon as I saw him, I was surprised - literary)
- Formal/written style
-자마자: Conversational, common
- 그를 보자마자 놀랐어요 (As soon as I saw him, I was surprised)
- Daily speech
-자 vs -는 순간
-자: As soon as (literary)
- 문을 열자 고양이가 나왔다 (As soon as I opened the door, the cat came out)
-는 순간: The moment when
- 문을 여는 순간 고양이가 나왔어요 (The moment I opened the door, the cat came out)
- Can be used in speech
-자 vs -자말자
-자: Simple "as soon as"
- 도착하자 전화했다 (As soon as [I] arrived, [I] called)
-자말자: Immediately without delay
- 도착하자말자 전화했다 (Immediately upon arriving, [I] called)
- Emphasizes no delay
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 좋자
Cannot use with adjectives
✅ Correct: Use different pattern
좋아지자 (as soon as it became good)
❌ Incorrect: 봤자
Don't add past tense marker
✅ Correct: 보자
-자 already implies past in narratives
❌ Incorrect: Using in casual conversation
"집에 가자 자야지"
✅ Correct: Use -자마자 or -면
"집에 가자마자 자야지" or "집에 가면 자야지"
Summary Table
| Pattern | Example | Context | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| -자 | 보자 놀랐다 | Literary | As soon as [I] saw, [I] was surprised |
| -자마자 | 보자마자 놀랐어요 | Spoken | As soon as [I] saw, [I] was surprised |
| -는 순간 | 보는 순간 놀랐어요 | Spoken | The moment [I] saw, [I] was surprised |
Usage Context Guide
Use -자 in:
✅ Written narratives ✅ Story telling (written) ✅ Formal reports ✅ Literary works ✅ Fairy tales/fables ✅ Historical accounts ✅ News articles (formal style)
Don't use -자 in:
❌ Daily conversation ❌ Casual speech ❌ Text messages ❌ Informal writing
Use -자마자 instead for spoken Korean
Literary Examples
Fairy Tale Style
-
왕자가 공주를 보자 첫눈에 반했다 (As soon as the prince saw the princess, he fell in love at first sight)
-
마녀가 주문을 외우자 호박이 마차로 변했다 (As soon as the witch chanted the spell, the pumpkin turned into a carriage)
News Report Style
-
사고가 발생하자 경찰이 출동했다 (As soon as the accident occurred, police were dispatched)
-
대통령이 연설을 시작하자 청중이 박수를 보냈다 (As soon as the president began the speech, the audience applauded)
Register Difference
Written vs Spoken
Written (formal):
- 도착하자 바로 회의를 시작했다
Spoken (casual):
- 도착하자마자 바로 회의를 시작했어요
Spoken (very casual):
- 도착해서 바로 회의 시작했어
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Literary/formal: Primarily written narratives
- ✅ Immediate sequence: As soon as, upon
- ✅ Action verbs only: Cannot use with adjectives
- ✅ Past context: Describes completed sequences
- ✅ Not for conversation: Use -자마자 instead
- ✅ Common in stories: Fairy tales, news, reports
- ✅ Simple form: Just verb stem + -자
-자 is essential for formal written Korean and literary narratives, expressing immediate sequential actions. For everyday conversation, use -자마자 instead, which has the same meaning but is appropriate for spoken Korean.