Meaning and Usage
「途端」(とたん) is used to express that something happens immediately after another action or event. It means "just at the moment" or "as soon as". It often emphasizes a sudden or unexpected change.
Common Contexts
This word is frequently used in everyday conversation and writing to describe immediate reactions or events that follow right after something else. It is often paired with verbs in the past tense or the te-form plus "しまう" to indicate suddenness.
Collocations and Patterns
- 「〜た途端」: Indicates that something happens immediately after the action described by the verb in past tense.
- Often used with verbs expressing movement or change, e.g., 入る (enter), 降り出す (start to rain), 話し始める (begin to speak).
Register and Nuance
「途端」is neutral in formality and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. It often implies a quick or surprising reaction.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 「途端」 with 「とたんに」 or 「たとたん」. The correct form is 「〜た途端」 or 「〜た途端に」, with the verb in past tense before it. Avoid using it with non-past verbs directly.
Summary
Use 「途端」to highlight that one event happens immediately after another, often unexpectedly or suddenly. It helps convey timing and cause-effect relationships clearly in conversation and writing.