-기가 무섭게
Used to vividly describe that a second action happens immediately after the first action finishes. It exaggerates the speed of the transition.
Summary
Equivalent
As soon as... / Right after...
Also: -자마자
Example
As soon as I received my paycheck, I bought this and that and spent it all.
월급을 받기가 무섭게 이것저것 다 사 버렸다.
Grammar rules
- Literally translates to 'frighteningly quickly after [X]'.
- It attaches only to verbs.
- It's interchangeable with '-자마자' but has a more dramatic or exaggerated nuance of extreme speed.
- It is not typically used for future events, but rather for habitual occurrences or events that have already happened.
엄마가 나가기가 무섭게 아이가 울기 시작했다. (As soon as mom left, the baby started crying.)
Patterns
V (Verbs)
현재 (Present) · -기가 무섭게
Example sentences
As soon as I received my paycheck, I bought this and that and spent it all.
월급을 받기가 무섭게 이것저것 다 사 버렸다.
As soon as class ended, the students rushed out of the classroom.
수업이 끝나기가 무섭게 학생들은 교실을 빠져나갔다.
Tickets for that singer's concert sold out frightfully fast right after ticketing opened.
그 가수의 콘서트 티켓은 예매가 시작되기가 무섭게 매진되었다.
Conversation
A: They say that game console sold out as soon as it was released.
저 게임기는 출시되자마자 다 팔렸대요.
B: Yes, right. People apparently bought them as soon as the stores opened.
네, 맞아요. 가게 문을 열기가 무섭게 사람들이 사 갔다고 해요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct phrase indicating an immediate exaggerated sequential action.
집에 오자마자 침대에 누웠어.
비가 개자마자 무지개가 떴어.