-자마자 expresses that one action happens immediately after another with no time gap. It means "as soon as," "right after," or "immediately after" in English.
Structure
Verb stem + -자마자
Breakdown:
- -자: Suggestion ending (let's do)
- 마자: Right away, immediately
Literal meaning: "Right at the moment of [doing]" → "As soon as"
Formation Rules
All Verbs: -자마자
Simple attachment to any verb stem:
- 가다 → 가자마자 (as soon as [someone] goes)
- 먹다 → 먹자마자 (as soon as [someone] eats)
- 오다 → 오자마자 (as soon as [someone] comes)
- 하다 → 하자마자 (as soon as [someone] does)
- 듣다 → 듣자마자 (as soon as [someone] hears)
- 보다 → 보자마자 (as soon as [someone] sees)
- 만들다 → 만들자마자 (as soon as [someone] makes)
Note: Works with ALL verbs, no exceptions. Very simple formation.
Core Meaning: Immediate Sequence
No Time Gap
Action 2 happens RIGHT after Action 1:
- 집에 오자마자 잤어요 (I slept as soon as I got home)
- 소식을 듣자마자 연락했어요 (I contacted [them] as soon as I heard the news)
- 문을 열자마자 고양이가 나갔어요 (The cat went out as soon as I opened the door)
Emphasis on Immediacy
Highlights the speed of the second action:
- 알람이 울리자마자 일어났어요 (I got up as soon as the alarm rang)
- 영화가 끝나자마자 박수가 나왔어요 (Applause broke out as soon as the movie ended)
- 비가 오자마자 우산을 펼쳤어요 (I opened my umbrella as soon as it started raining)
Common Usage Patterns
Immediate Reactions
Reacting right away:
- 전화를 받자마자 달려갔어요 (I ran as soon as I answered the phone)
- 소식을 듣자마자 기뻤어요 (I was happy as soon as I heard the news)
- 그를 보자마자 알아봤어요 (I recognized him as soon as I saw him)
- 결과를 보자마자 실망했어요 (I was disappointed as soon as I saw the results)
Quick Actions
Acting without delay:
- 도착하자마자 전화할게요 (I'll call as soon as I arrive)
- 일어나자마자 운동해요 (I exercise as soon as I wake up)
- 집에 오자마자 샤워해요 (I shower as soon as I get home)
- 월급을 받자마자 저축해요 (I save as soon as I get my salary)
Spontaneous Events
Things that happen right away:
- 봄이 오자마자 꽃이 피었어요 (Flowers bloomed as soon as spring came)
- 문을 열자마자 냄새가 났어요 (There was a smell as soon as I opened the door)
- 시험이 끝나자마자 친구들이 환호했어요 (My friends cheered as soon as the exam ended)
With Different Subjects
Same Subject
Same person does both actions immediately:
- 집에 가자마자 잤어요 (I slept as soon as I got home)
- 일어나자마자 커피를 마셨어요 (I drank coffee as soon as I woke up)
Different Subjects
Different people/things, but immediate sequence:
- 비가 오자마자 사람들이 뛰었어요 (People ran as soon as it started raining)
- 종이 울리자마자 학생들이 나갔어요 (Students left as soon as the bell rang)
- 해가 뜨자마자 새들이 노래했어요 (Birds sang as soon as the sun rose)
Tense Usage
Past Context (Most Common)
Immediate sequence in the past:
- 집에 오자마자 잤어요 (I slept as soon as I got home)
- 소식을 듣자마자 전화했어요 (I called as soon as I heard the news)
- 영화를 보자마자 울었어요 (I cried as soon as I watched the movie)
Present/Future Context
Habitual or future immediate actions:
- 집에 오자마자 항상 손을 씻어요 (I always wash my hands as soon as I get home - habitual)
- 내일 도착하자마자 연락할게요 (I'll contact you as soon as I arrive tomorrow - future)
- 일어나자마자 운동해요 (I exercise as soon as I wake up - habitual)
Common Expressions
Daily Life
- 일어나자마자 (as soon as waking up)
- 자리에 앉자마자 (as soon as sitting down)
- 집에 오자마자 (as soon as getting home)
- 도착하자마자 (as soon as arriving)
- 듣자마자 (as soon as hearing)
- 보자마자 (as soon as seeing)
Events
- 시작하자마자 (as soon as starting)
- 끝나자마자 (as soon as finishing)
- 열리자마자 (as soon as opening)
- 닫히자마자 (as soon as closing)
- 울리자마자 (as soon as ringing)
Actions
- 먹자마자 (as soon as eating)
- 마시자마자 (as soon as drinking)
- 입자마자 (as soon as wearing)
- 타자마자 (as soon as riding/boarding)
- 내리자마자 (as soon as getting off)
Example Sentences
Immediate Actions
- 학교에 도착하자마자 친구를 만났어요 (I met my friend as soon as I arrived at school)
- 알람이 울리자마자 일어났어요 (I got up as soon as the alarm rang)
- 영화가 시작하자마자 조용해졌어요 (It became quiet as soon as the movie started)
- 문을 열자마자 개가 뛰어왔어요 (The dog ran over as soon as I opened the door)
Quick Reactions
- 그 말을 듣자마자 화가 났어요 (I got angry as soon as I heard that)
- 사진을 보자마자 웃었어요 (I laughed as soon as I saw the photo)
- 결과를 확인하자마자 기뻤어요 (I was happy as soon as I checked the results)
- 그를 보자마자 알아봤어요 (I recognized him as soon as I saw him)
Daily Routines
- 일어나자마자 물을 마셔요 (I drink water as soon as I wake up)
- 집에 오자마자 손을 씻어요 (I wash my hands as soon as I get home)
- 회사에 도착하자마자 커피를 마셔요 (I drink coffee as soon as I arrive at work)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Immediate Action
A: 어제 집에 와서 뭐 했어요?
(What did you do after coming home yesterday?)
B: 너무 피곤해서 집에 오자마자 잤어요.
(I was so tired that I slept as soon as I got home.)
Dialogue 2: Quick Reaction
A: 시험 결과 어땠어요?
(How were your exam results?)
B: 결과를 보자마자 기뻤어요. 100점이었어요!
(I was happy as soon as I saw the results. It was 100 points!)
Dialogue 3: Future Plan
A: 언제 연락할 거예요?
(When will you contact me?)
B: 공항에 도착하자마자 바로 연락할게요.
(I'll contact you right away as soon as I arrive at the airport.)
Dialogue 4: Habitual Action
A: 아침에 일어나서 먼저 뭐 해요?
(What do you do first after waking up in the morning?)
B: 일어나자마자 물 한 잔 마셔요.
(I drink a glass of water as soon as I wake up.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 가기자마자
Using -기 form
✅ Correct: 가자마자
Use simple stem + -자마자
❌ Incorrect: 간자마자
Using past form
✅ Correct: 가자마자
Use simple stem
❌ Incorrect: 가는자마자
Using present modifier
✅ Correct: 가자마자
Use simple stem only
Usage Notes
Emphasizes Immediacy
-자마자 vs -(으)ㄴ 후에:
-자마자 (immediately, no gap):
- 집에 오자마자 잤어요 (Slept RIGHT when I got home - no delay)
-(으)ㄴ 후에 (after, can have gap):
- 집에 온 후에 잤어요 (Slept after getting home - might be a gap)
Only with Verbs
-자마자 only works with action verbs, not adjectives:
- ✅ 오자마자 (as soon as coming)
- ❌ 좋자마자 (as soon as being good - doesn't make sense)
Comparison with Similar Expressions
-자마자 vs -(으)ㄴ 후에
-자마자 (immediately):
- 도착하자마자 전화했어요 (Called immediately upon arrival)
-(으)ㄴ 후에 (after):
- 도착한 후에 전화했어요 (Called after arriving - could be some time later)
-자마자 vs -고 나서
-자마자 (immediate):
- 먹자마자 나갔어요 (Left immediately after eating)
-고 나서 (after completing):
- 먹고 나서 나갔어요 (Left after eating - emphasizes completion more than speed)
-자마자 vs -자
-자마자 (as soon as):
- 가자마자 (as soon as going)
-자 (let's do, suggestion):
- 가자 (let's go)
Note: Completely different meanings!
Related Expressions
곧바로 (Immediately, straight away)
Can be used together for emphasis:
- 도착하자마자 곧바로 전화했어요 (Called immediately right upon arrival)
즉시 (Immediately - formal)
Formal equivalent:
- 즉시 연락하세요 (Contact immediately - formal)
바로 (Right away, immediately)
Common adverb:
- 바로 갈게요 (I'll go right away)
Can combine:
- 도착하자마자 바로 (immediately right upon arrival)
Summary Table
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb + -자마자 | As soon as doing | 오자마자 |
| -자마자 + Past | As soon as did (past) | 오자마자 잤어요 |
| -자마자 + Present | As soon as does (habitual) | 오자마자 자요 |
| -자마자 + Future | As soon as will do (future) | 오자마자 잘 거예요 |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Immediate sequence: No time gap between actions
- ✅ Simple formation: Verb stem + -자마자 (all verbs)
- ✅ Very common: Essential for natural Korean
- ✅ Emphasizes speed: Highlights immediacy
- ✅ Only verbs: Doesn't work with adjectives
- ✅ Often with past: Most commonly describes past immediate actions
-자마자 is crucial for expressing immediate sequential actions in Korean. It's one of the most natural ways to emphasize that something happened right away without any delay, making your Korean sound more fluent and native-like.