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JLPT N2 grammar comparison

〜次第 vs 〜たとたん(に)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the 〜次第 lesson

〜たとたん(に): "The moment": a past, often surprising event; not a promise.

From the 〜たとたん(に) lesson

〜次第: "As soon as X, (I will) Y" – used for plans and requests; とたん is only for past facts.

Side by side

〜次第

shidai (as soon as) · JLPT N2

Meaning
as soon as (formal)
Formation
Vます + 次第 / N(する-noun) + 次第

  1. 詳細が分かり次第、ご連絡します。

    しょうさいがわかりしだい、ごれんらくします。

    I will contact you as soon as the details are known.

  2. 会議が終わり次第、伺います。

    かいぎがおわりしだい、うかがいます。

    I'll come as soon as the meeting ends.

Full lesson on 〜次第

〜たとたん(に)

ta totan (ni) · JLPT N2

Meaning
the moment… / just as… (something unexpected happened)
Formation
Verb (た-form) + とたん(に)Second clause: past tense, an unexpected event outside the speaker's controlNot used with intentions (〜よう), commands, or requests in the second clause

  1. 立ち上がったとたん、めまいがした。

    たちあがったとたん、めまいがした。

    The moment I stood up, I felt dizzy.

  2. ドアを開けたとたんに、猫が飛び出してきた。

    ドアをあけたとたんに、ねこがとびだしてきた。

    The moment I opened the door, the cat shot out.

Full lesson on 〜たとたん(に)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 〜次第 and 〜たとたん(に)?

"The moment": a past, often surprising event; not a promise.

When do you use 〜たとたん(に) instead of 〜次第?

"As soon as X, (I will) Y" – used for plans and requests; とたん is only for past facts.