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〜たとたん(に)

the moment, just as

Verb た-form + とたん(に)

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とたん says the second thing happened the instant the first one did: 家を出たとたん、雨が降り出した, "the moment I left the house, it started raining".

It always follows the た-form, and the second part is usually something sudden or unexpected, outside the speaker's control: a feeling, a reaction, an event. That's why it can't be used for your own planned actions: not 家に帰ったとたん、宿題をした.

とたんに means the same; the に is optional.

Compare すぐ, "straight away", which doesn't carry the surprise, and と同時に, which is more neutral and can follow the dictionary form.

Examples

  • 家いえを出でたとたん、雨あめが降ふり出だした。

    The moment I left the house, it started raining.

  • 立たち上あがったとたん、めまいがした。

    The moment I stood up, I felt dizzy.

  • ベッドに入はいったとたん、寝ねてしまった。

    I fell asleep the moment I got into bed.

  • 窓まどを開あけたとたん、冷つめたい風かぜが入はいってきた。

    The moment I opened the window, a cold wind blew in.

  • 彼かれは私わたしの顔かおを見みたとたんに、笑わらい出だした。

    The instant he saw my face, he burst out laughing.

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