途端に

• Reading: とたんに
• Romaji: totanni
• Kanji breakdown: 途 (to) — road, course, journey; 端 (tan/hashi) — edge, end, tip; に (ni) — directional/temporal particle
• Pronunciation: /to.tan.ni/

Meaning

The very moment that; just as; at the instant when. Used to indicate that something happened immediately after or simultaneously with another event.

An adverb expressing tight temporal coincidence — typically that one event triggered or immediately followed another, often with a sense of surprise or abruptness. Commonly paired with た-form verbs: 〜た途端に (the moment I did X, Y happened). The subject of the two clauses is usually different. Carries a slightly dramatic nuance, making it common in narrative and conversational storytelling.

Examples

1. ドアを開けた途端に、猫が飛び出してきた。 The moment I opened the door, the cat came flying out.
2. 会議が終わった途端に、携帯に大量のメッセージが届いた。 The instant the meeting ended, a flood of messages arrived on my phone.
3. 彼は名前を呼ばれた途端に、顔を真っ赤にして立ち上がった。 The moment his name was called, he stood up with his face bright red.

Usage Guide

Context: storytelling, narrative, conversation

Tone: dramatic

Origin & History

From 途端 (the very moment, a split second) + に (particle). 途 (road, journey) + 端 (edge, tip) suggests standing right at the edge of a moment — the precise instant of transition from one state to the next.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal