Translation guide
Expresses that something happens immediately before a specific point in time or event. Common patterns include 直前に, 直前, and ～する直前に.
The learner wants to say that something happened or will happen right before a specific event or time.
Used with a verb in dictionary form to mean 'just before doing something'. This is the most common and natural pattern.
家を出る直前に電話が鳴った。
The phone rang just before I left the house.
寝る直前にコーヒーを飲まないほうがいい。
You shouldn't drink coffee just before going to bed.
The learner wants to specify a time immediately preceding a clock time or time expression.
Used with a time expression to mean 'just before (a time)'.
3時の直前に会議が終わった。
The meeting ended just before 3 o'clock.
直前 emphasizes immediacy ('just before'), while 前 is a general 'before'. Use 直前 when the timing is critical or very close.
出発の直前に忘れ物に気づいた。
I noticed I forgot something just before departure.
出発の前にコーヒーを飲んだ。
I drank coffee before departure.
Used with a noun to mean 'just before something'. The noun is often an event or time.
試験の直前に彼は緊張した。
He got nervous just before the exam.
出発の直前に雨が降り始めた。
It started raining just before departure.
Noun meaning 'the time just before'. Can be used as a standalone noun or in phrases like 直前に.
締め切り直前になって慌てた。
I panicked just before the deadline.
Adverb/noun meaning 'at the last moment' or 'barely'. Implies something happening very close to a limit, often with a sense of urgency.
電車が出るぎりぎりに駅に着いた。
I arrived at the station just before the train left.
Simply 'before' a time. Less emphatic than 直前, but can be used with ちょっと or すぐ to mean 'just before'.
ちょっと前に彼に会った。
I saw him just a little while ago.