Translation guide
The English word 'brink' refers to the edge of something, often a dangerous or critical point. In Japanese, different words are used depending on whether you mean a physical edge, a critical moment, or the verge of an action or state.
Describing the very edge of a cliff, precipice, or other steep drop.
General word for the edge or brim of something, including cliffs. Often used in compound words.
崖の縁に立っている。
I'm standing on the brink of the cliff.
Means 'edge' or 'end' in a broad sense. Can be used for the brink of a physical space.
崖の端に立つと怖い。
It's scary to stand on the brink of the cliff.
Refers to the very edge or verge, often used in literary or formal contexts.
崖の際まで近づいた。
I approached the brink of the cliff.
Expressing that someone or something is on the verge of a significant, often negative, event.
Common pattern meaning 'on the brink of' or 'at the critical moment of'. Used for both positive and negative outcomes, but often implies a decisive turning point.
会社は倒産の瀬戸際だ。
The company is on the brink of bankruptcy.
彼は生死の瀬戸際をさまよった。
He hovered on the brink of death.
Means 'just before' or 'on the verge of'. Attaches to nouns or verb stems. Very common for imminent actions or states.
戦争が始まる寸前だった。
We were on the brink of war.
彼は泣き出す寸前だった。
He was on the brink of tears.
Literally 'crisis of ~'. Used to describe being on the brink of a dangerous situation.
その国は内戦の危機に瀕している。
The country is on the brink of civil war.
Literary word for 'abyss' or 'deep pool', used metaphorically for the brink of disaster.
Describing being about to do something, often with emotional intensity.
Pattern meaning 'looks like ~ is about to happen any moment'. Natural for describing someone on the brink of an action.
彼女は今にも泣き出しそうだった。
She was on the brink of tears.
Verb suffix indicating an action is started but not completed, or about to start. Conveys being on the brink of doing something.
彼は言いかけてやめた。
He was on the brink of saying something but stopped.
Literary pattern meaning 'as if about to', emphasizing the imminent nature of an action.
彼女は泣き出さんばかりだった。
She was on the brink of bursting into tears.
Both mean 'on the brink', but 瀬戸際 emphasizes a critical decision point or life-changing moment, while 寸前 simply means 'just before' an event. 寸前 is more common in everyday speech.
試験寸前に慌てる。
Panic just before the exam.
人生の瀬戸際に立つ。
Stand at a crossroads in life.
English 'brink' is often used in fixed phrases like 'on the brink of war'. Direct translation as 縁 (ふち) would sound unnatural in most metaphorical contexts. Use the patterns above instead.
To stand on the brink of ruin.