〜たとたん(に) (totan ni)
JLPT N2 The very moment ~.
Meaning
“The moment ~, (suddenly) ….” Two events right on top of each other; the second is often unexpected.
Formation
Verb (た-form) + とたん(に)
Examples
立ち上がったとたん、めまいがした。
Tachiagatta totan, memai ga shita. — The moment I stood up, I felt dizzy.
ドアを開けたとたんに、猫が飛び出した。
Doa o aketa totan ni, neko ga tobidashita. — The instant I opened the door, the cat shot out.
彼の顔を見たとたん、涙が出た。
Kare no kao o mita totan, namida ga deta. — The moment I saw his face, tears came.
How it works
The second event happens instantly and often unexpectedly, right as the first finishes. The second clause is usually beyond the speaker's control.
Because the result is spontaneous, the second clause is normally in the past tense, not a command or intention.
Compared with similar expressions
〜たとたん — “the moment ~,” sudden, unplanned reaction
〜と同時に — “at the same time as,” two things together
〜次第 — “as soon as,” planned next action follows
Common mistakes
Use the た-form: 見たとたん (not 見るとたん).
Don't end with a request or plan — とたん is for spontaneous events, so use 〜たら for planned follow-ups.
Related grammar
〜か〜ないかのうちに — almost the instant ~
〜次第 — as soon as ~
〜と同時に — at the same time as ~
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