자마자 grammar

자마자 GRAMMAR MEANING

‘-자마자 grammar’ is used to indicate that an event or action is immediately followed by another event or action.
The English translation of 자마자 is as soon as, immediately (on, upon).
‘-자마자‘ attaches after a verb stem. This expression is a suffix used to indicate that an event or action is immediately followed by another event or action.

If you take the first action and you take the second action immediately after the first action 자마자 grammar is used. As soon as the first action is performed, the second action is performed.

Let’s find out more by looking at the examples.

‘침대에 눕자마자 바로 잠들었어요.’ I fall asleep as soon as I lay in bed.
Here, ‘눕자마자’ is a combination of the verb ‘눕다’ and ‘자마자.’

When talking about the action immediately following the preceding action like this, use ‘자마자” after the preceding verb.

‘ 서리따 씨를 보자마자 첫눈에 반했어요.’ I fell in love at first sight as soon as I saw sawretwa.
Here, ‘보자마자’ is a combination of the verb ‘보다’ and ‘자마자.’
As soon as the first action is performed (saw sawretwa), the second action is performed (fell in love).

When talking about the action immediately following the preceding action like this, use ‘자마자’ after the preceding verb.

자마자 grammar conjugation

Now let’s look at the combination information.

Whether a verb stem has the final consonant or not, ‘-자마자’ is used. For example, when you look at the verb 먹다 which has the final consonant, remove ‘다’.
Then there is the final consonant before ‘다’. Then ‘자마자’ is used after that.
So you can say ‘먹자마자.’

When you look at the verb 오다 which does not have the final consonant, remove ‘다’.
Then there is no final consonant before ‘다.’ Then ‘자마자’ is used after that.
So you can say ‘보자마자’.

In summary, whether a verb stem has the final consonant or not, ‘자마자’ is used.
‘먹다’ becomes ‘먹자마자’
‘보다’ becomes ‘보자마자.’

자마자 example sentences

저는 밥을 먹자마자 바로 이를 닦아요. I brush my teeth as soon as I eat.
도착하자마자 전화 좀 해주세요. Please call me as soon as you arrive.
우산을 펴자마자 비가 왔어요. It rained as soon as I opened the umbrella.
아침에 일어나자마자. as soon as one gets up
집에 돌아오자마자. the moment one comes home
Call me up as soon as you get there. 거기 가자마자 나한테 전화해라.
As soon as he told me a scary story, it gave me goose skin. 그가 무서운 이야기를 하자마자 그 이야기는 나에게 소름이 돋게 했다.
As soon as I’m up to it, I’m leaving. 내가 그것을 하자마자 나는 떠날거야.
I’ll shave once I get into the office. 사무실에 가자마자 면도할 거예요.
한국 가자마자 고칠 거야. I’m going to fix it as soon as I arrive in Korea.
서울 오자마자? As soon as you moved into Seoul?

자마자 grammar