⚡

Sequence: Just as / Right after: -자마자

Keywords
-자마자
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Grammar
🎯
TL;DR 🦄
  • -자마자 [-ja-ma-ja] means “as soon as…” / “right after…” / “the moment…”.
  • Attach it directly to an action verb stem: 도착하다 → 도착하자마자.
  • Put the tense on the final verb: 집에 오자마자 잤어요. = As soon as I got home, I slept.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear the quick-sequence rhythm. Try 도착하자마자 [do-cha-ka-ja-ma-ja], 일어나자마자 [i-reo-na-ja-ma-ja], 집에 오자마자 잤어요 [ji-be o-ja-ma-ja ja-sseo-yo], and 보자마자 웃었어요 [bo-ja-ma-ja u-seo-sseo-yo].
 

🌈 The Big Picture

-자마자 connects two actions when the second action happens immediately after the first.
Think of it as:
“as soon as…”
“right after…”
“the moment…”
“immediately when…”
  • 집에 오자마자 잤어요.
      • [ji-be o-ja-ma-ja ja-sseo-yo]
      As soon as I got home, I slept. 😴
  • 수업이 끝나자마자 나갔어요.
      • [su-eo-bi kkeut-na-ja-ma-ja na-ga-sseo-yo]
      As soon as class ended, I left. 🚪
  • 그 사람을 보자마자 알았어요.
      • [geu sa-ra-meul bo-ja-ma-ja a-ra-sseo-yo]
      I knew as soon as I saw that person. 👀
It emphasizes almost no time gap between Action 1 and Action 2.

🧠 Core Meanings

1. Immediate sequence: “as soon as”

Use it when one action happens right after another.
  • 도착하자마자 전화했어요.
      • [do-cha-ka-ja-ma-ja jeon-hwa-hae-sseo-yo]
      I called as soon as I arrived. 📞
  • 문을 열자마자 고양이가 들어왔어요.
      • [mu-neul yeol-ja-ma-ja go-yang-i-ga deu-reo-wa-sseo-yo]
      As soon as I opened the door, the cat came in. 🐈
  • 시험이 끝나자마자 친구를 만났어요.
      • [si-heo-mi kkeut-na-ja-ma-ja chin-gu-reul man-na-sseo-yo]
      As soon as the test ended, I met a friend. 📝

2. Immediate reaction: “the moment…”

Use it for a fast emotional or physical reaction.
  • 그 말을 듣자마자 웃었어요.
      • [geu ma-reul deut-ja-ma-ja u-seo-sseo-yo]
      I laughed as soon as I heard that. 😂
  • 매운 음식을 먹자마자 물을 마셨어요.
      • [mae-un eum-si-geul meok-ja-ma-ja mu-reul ma-syeo-sseo-yo]
      As soon as I ate spicy food, I drank water. 🌶️
  • 아기를 보자마자 미소가 나왔어요.
      • [a-gi-reul bo-ja-ma-ja mi-so-ga na-wa-sseo-yo]
      I smiled the moment I saw the baby. 😊

3. Routine sequence: “right after doing…”

Use it for habits or repeated timing.
  • 일어나자마자 물을 마셔요.
      • [i-reo-na-ja-ma-ja mu-reul ma-syeo-yo]
      I drink water as soon as I wake up. 💧
  • 퇴근하자마자 운동해요.
      • [toe-geun-ha-ja-ma-ja un-dong-hae-yo]
      I exercise right after getting off work. 🏃
  • 집에 들어오자마자 손을 씻어요.
      • [ji-be deu-reo-o-ja-ma-ja so-neul ssi-seo-yo]
      I wash my hands as soon as I come home. 🧼
💡
Timing feeling
-자마자 is stronger than just “after.” It means the second action happens immediately after the first.
  • 먹고 잤어요. = I ate and slept.
  • 먹자마자 잤어요. = I slept right after eating.

🎨 Formation Rules

Attach -자마자 directly to the action verb stem.

1. Action verbs + 자마자

  • 가다 [ga-da] → 가자마자 [ga-ja-ma-ja] = as soon as someone goes
  • 오다 [o-da] → 오자마자 [o-ja-ma-ja] = as soon as someone comes
  • 먹다 [meok-da] → 먹자마자 [meok-ja-ma-ja] = as soon as someone eats
  • 읽다 [ik-da] → 읽자마자 [ik-ja-ma-ja] = as soon as someone reads
  • 도착하다 → 도착하자마자 = as soon as someone arrives

2. Tense goes on the final verb

The first verb usually does not take past tense.
  • ✅ 집에 오자마자 잤어요.
      • As soon as I got home, I slept.
  • ❌ 집에 왔자마자 잤어요.

3. Honorific -시- + 자마자

When using honorific language, attach -자마자 after -시-.
  • 오시다 → 오시자마자 = as soon as they came
  • 도착하시다 → 도착하시자마자 = as soon as they arrived
  • 말씀하시다 → 말씀하시자마자 = as soon as they spoke

4. Adjectives usually do not use -자마자

Because -자마자 means one action happens right after another, it usually attaches to action verbs.
  • ✅ 날씨가 추워지자마자 코트를 입었어요.
      • As soon as the weather got cold, I wore a coat.
      Use a change verb like 추워지다.
  • ❌ 춥자마자 for “as soon as it was cold”
⚠️
Spacing warning
-자마자 is one ending and attaches to the verb stem.
  • ✅ 내리자마자
  • ❌ 내리자 마자
  • ❌ 내리 자마자

🛠️ How It Works in Real Sentences

Daily actions

  • 일어나자마자 세수해요.
      • [i-reo-na-ja-ma-ja se-su-hae-yo]
      I wash my face as soon as I wake up. 🧼
  • 집에 오자마자 옷을 갈아입어요.
      • [ji-be o-ja-ma-ja o-seul ga-ra-i-beo-yo]
      I change clothes as soon as I get home. 👕

Quick reactions

  • 소식을 듣자마자 엄마에게 전화했어요.
      • [so-si-geul deut-ja-ma-ja eom-ma-e-ge jeon-hwa-hae-sseo-yo]
      As soon as I heard the news, I called my mom. 📞
  • 사진을 보자마자 웃었어요.
      • [sa-ji-neul bo-ja-ma-ja u-seo-sseo-yo]
      I laughed as soon as I saw the photo. 📷

Travel and movement

  • 버스에서 내리자마자 비가 왔어요.
      • [beo-seu-e-seo nae-ri-ja-ma-ja bi-ga wa-sseo-yo]
      As soon as I got off the bus, it rained. 🚌
  • 공항에 도착하자마자 택시를 탔어요.
      • [gong-hang-e do-cha-ka-ja-ma-ja taek-si-reul ta-sseo-yo]
      As soon as I arrived at the airport, I took a taxi. ✈️

Cause-like sequence

  • 그 말을 듣자마자 화가 났어요.
      • [geu ma-reul deut-ja-ma-ja hwa-ga na-sseo-yo]
      As soon as I heard those words, I got angry. 😠
  • 음식을 먹자마자 속이 안 좋아졌어요.
      • [eum-si-geul meok-ja-ma-ja so-gi an jo-a-jyeo-sseo-yo]
      As soon as I ate the food, I felt sick. 🤢

🔍 -자마자 vs -고 나서 vs -다가

-자마자 = immediately after

  • 집에 오자마자 잤어요.
      • I slept as soon as I got home.

-고 나서 = after doing

  • 집에 오고 나서 잤어요.
      • I slept after coming home.
      There may be some time gap.

-다가 = while doing, interruption/change

  • 집에 오다가 친구를 만났어요.
      • I met a friend while coming home / on the way home.
Daily learner tip: Use -자마자 when the second action is almost immediate.

🧩 Common Patterns

1. 일어나자마자... = as soon as I wake up

  • 일어나자마자 물을 마셔요. = I drink water as soon as I wake up.
  • 일어나자마자 휴대폰을 봐요. = I check my phone as soon as I wake up.
  • 일어나자마자 운동해요. = I exercise as soon as I wake up.

2. 집에 오자마자... = as soon as I get home

  • 집에 오자마자 쉬었어요. = I rested as soon as I got home.
  • 집에 오자마자 샤워했어요. = I showered as soon as I got home.
  • 집에 오자마자 숙제를 했어요. = I did homework as soon as I got home.

3. 보자마자... = as soon as I saw

  • 보자마자 알았어요. = I knew as soon as I saw it.
  • 보자마자 사고 싶었어요. = I wanted to buy it as soon as I saw it.
  • 보자마자 웃었어요. = I laughed as soon as I saw it.

📚 Cross-check note

This lesson was checked against korean.go.kr. Their guidance defines -자마자 as a connective ending that attaches to a verb stem or honorific -으시-, and means that the following event/action happens right after the preceding action is completed. Korean.go.kr also confirms that it is written attached, as in 내리자마자, not spaced as 내리자 마자.
Practical lesson choice: teach -자마자 as “as soon as / right after,” with emphasis on immediate sequence and no past tense on the first verb.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 왔자마자 → ✅ 오자마자
  • ❌ 먹었자마자 → ✅ 먹자마자
  • ❌ 내리자 마자 → ✅ 내리자마자
  • ❌ Thinking -자마자 just means “after” → ✅ It means “immediately after.”
  • ❌ 춥자마자 → ✅ 추워지자마자 when you mean “as soon as it got cold.”
Bottom line: -자마자 is the “right after / the moment” connector. Use it when Action 2 happens immediately after Action 1: 집에 오자마자 잤어요, 보자마자 웃었어요, 도착하자마자 전화했어요. ⚡✨
 

Try this exercise

Instructions Complete each sentence with the correct -자마자 form.
1. 오다 → 집에 ＿＿＿＿ 잤어요. 🏠
Answer
오자마자 — “As soon as I got home, I slept.”
2. 도착하다 → 회사에 ＿＿＿＿ 회의가 시작됐어요. 💼
Answer
도착하자마자
3. 일어나다 → ＿＿＿＿ 물을 마셔요. 💧
Answer
일어나자마자
4. 먹다 → 매운 음식을 ＿＿＿＿ 물을 마셨어요. 🌶️
Answer
먹자마자
5. 듣다 → 소식을 ＿＿＿＿ 전화했어요. 📞
Answer
듣자마자 — Attach directly to the stem.
6. 보다 → 사진을 ＿＿＿＿ 웃었어요. 📷
Answer
보자마자
7. 끝나다 → 수업이 ＿＿＿＿ 나갔어요. 🚪
Answer
끝나자마자
8. Choose the correct sentence.
① 집에 왔자마자 잤어요.
② 집에 오자마자 잤어요.
Answer
② 집에 오자마자 잤어요. — No past tense on the first verb.
9. Choose the correct spacing.
① 내리자마자
② 내리자 마자
Answer
① 내리자마자
10. 추워지다 → 날씨가 ＿＿＿＿ 코트를 입었어요. 🧥
Answer
추워지자마자
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 집 → home
  • 도착하다 → to arrive
  • 일어나다 → to wake up / get up
  • 매운 음식 → spicy food
  • 소식 → news
  • 사진 → photo
  • 끝나다 → to end
  • 내리다 → to get off
  • 추워지다 → to get cold
Tip 💡 If the meaning is “immediately after,” -자마자 is probably the one.
🚀
Want more reps? Visit the Practice Hub when you're ready! 🚀
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Sequence: Just as / Right after: -자마자
 
This Practice Hub trains -자마자 for immediate sequence, reactions, routines, spacing, tense placement, and contrasts with -고 나서 and -다가. Each exercise has 10 questions, A–J. 🧩
 

Exercise 1 — Form Builder ✅

A. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 전화하세요.
Answer
가자마자
B. 오다 → 집에 ＿＿＿＿ 쉬었어요.
Answer
오자마자
C. 먹다 → 밥을 ＿＿＿＿ 약을 먹었어요.
Answer
먹자마자
D. 읽다 → 메시지를 ＿＿＿＿ 답장했어요.
Answer
읽자마자
E. 듣다 → 말을 ＿＿＿＿ 웃었어요.
Answer
듣자마자
F. 보다 → 얼굴을 ＿＿＿＿ 알았어요.
Answer
보자마자
G. 도착하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 연락했어요.
Answer
도착하자마자
H. 끝나다 → 일이 ＿＿＿＿ 집에 갔어요.
Answer
끝나자마자
I. 일어나다 → ＿＿＿＿ 샤워해요.
Answer
일어나자마자
J. 내리다 → 버스에서 ＿＿＿＿ 비가 왔어요.
Answer
내리자마자
📚
Form reminder
Action verb stem + 자마자
 
  • 오다 → 오자마자
  • 먹다 → 먹자마자
  • 도착하다 → 도착하자마자
  • Tense goes on the final verb.
 

Exercise 2 — Immediate Sequence ⚡

A. As soon as I got home, I slept.
집에 오자마자 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
잤어요
B. As soon as I arrived, I called.
도착하자마자 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
전화했어요
C. As soon as class ended, I left.
수업이 끝나자마자 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
나갔어요
D. As soon as I woke up, I drank water.
일어나자마자 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
물을 마셨어요 / 물을 마셔요
E. As soon as I opened the door, the cat came in.
문을 열자마자 고양이가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
들어왔어요
F. As soon as I got off the bus, it rained.
버스에서 내리자마자 비가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
왔어요
G. As soon as I heard the news, I cried.
소식을 듣자마자 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
울었어요
H. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to buy it.
보자마자 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
사고 싶었어요
I. As soon as I entered, I washed my hands.
들어오자마자 손을 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
씻었어요
J. As soon as I met them, I recognized them.
만나자마자 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
알아봤어요
💡
Immediate feeling
-자마자 makes the time gap feel very short:
 
Action 1 → immediately Action 2
 

Exercise 3 — -자마자, -고 나서, or -다가? 🔍

A. I slept as soon as I got home.
집에 오＿＿＿＿ 잤어요.
Answer
자마자 → 오자마자
B. I slept after coming home.
집에 오＿＿＿＿ 잤어요.
Answer
고 나서 → 오고 나서
C. I met a friend on the way home.
집에 오＿＿＿＿ 친구를 만났어요.
Answer
다가 → 오다가
D. I called as soon as I arrived.
도착하＿＿＿＿ 전화했어요.
Answer
자마자 → 도착하자마자
E. I ate after washing my hands.
손을 씻＿＿＿＿ 밥을 먹었어요.
Answer
고 나서 → 씻고 나서
F. A call came while I was eating.
밥을 먹＿＿＿＿ 전화가 왔어요.
Answer
다가 → 먹다가
G. As soon as I ate spicy food, I drank water.
매운 음식을 먹＿＿＿＿ 물을 마셨어요.
Answer
자마자 → 먹자마자
H. I was going to school and it rained.
학교에 가＿＿＿＿ 비가 왔어요.
Answer
다가 → 가다가
I. I left as soon as work ended.
일이 끝나＿＿＿＿ 나갔어요.
Answer
자마자 → 끝나자마자
J. I rested after work ended.
일이 끝나＿＿＿＿ 쉬었어요.
Answer
고 나서 → 끝나고 나서
📌
Connector choice
  • Immediate sequence → -자마자
  • General “after” → -고 나서
  • During/on the way/interruption → -다가
 

Exercise 4 — Tense, Spacing, and Change Verbs 🧱

A. ❌ 왔자마자 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
오자마자
B. ❌ 먹었자마자 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹자마자
C. ❌ 도착했자마자 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
도착하자마자
D. ❌ 내리자 마자 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
내리자마자
E. ❌ 앉아마자 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
앉자마자
F. ❌ 춥자마자 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
추워지자마자 — “as soon as it got cold.”
G. ❌ 예쁘자마자 → Better: ＿＿＿＿
Answer
예뻐지자마자 — “as soon as it became pretty.”
H. Honorific: 오시다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
오시자마자
I. Honorific: 말씀하시다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
말씀하시자마자
J. Choose the attached form.
① 끝나자마자
② 끝나자 마자
Answer
① 끝나자마자
🧠
Two big rules
  1. No past tense on the first verb for basic -자마자.
  1. Write it attached: 오자마자.
 

Exercise 5 — Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 집에 왔자마자 잤어요. → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
집에 오자마자 잤어요.
B. ❌ 밥을 먹었자마자 약을 먹었어요. → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
밥을 먹자마자 약을 먹었어요.
C. ❌ 버스에서 내리자 마자 비가 왔어요. → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
버스에서 내리자마자 비가 왔어요.
D. ❌ 집에 오다가 잤어요 for “as soon as I came home” → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
집에 오자마자 잤어요.
E. ❌ 집에 오자마자 친구를 만났어요 if you mean “on the way home” → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
집에 오다가 친구를 만났어요.
F. ❌ -자마자 means just “after” → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
It means immediately after / as soon as.
G. ❌ 슬프자마자 울었어요 → More natural: ＿＿＿＿
Answer
슬퍼지자마자 울었어요 if meaning “as soon as I became sad, I cried.”
H. ❌ -자마자 is only for past events → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
It can describe habits, future actions, and past events: 도착하자마자 전화할게요.
I. ❌ 일어나자마자 and 일어나고 나서 always feel the same → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
일어나자마자 feels immediate; 일어나고 나서 just means after getting up.
J. ❌ 도착하자마자 연락했어요 has a long time gap → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
It implies the contact happened right away.
⚠️
Common traps
  • Don’t use past tense before 자마자.
  • Don’t space 자마자.
  • Use it for immediate sequence.
  • For “on the way,” use -다가.
 
🎉 Immediate-sequence grammar unlocked. With -자마자, you can describe quick timing naturally: 오자마자 잤어요, 보자마자 웃었어요, 도착하자마자 전화했어요. ⚡✨