Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
先ほど (さきほど) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun, adverb
a short while ago ; just now
Polite, slightly formal temporal adverb/noun referring to the very recent past. Often used in business or respectful contexts. Can also mean 'some time ago' when the exact time is vague.
礼れい
いたし
まし
た
。
I apologize for my rudeness earlier.
Written forms 先さき ほど Usage 82%
Standard modern spelling; ほど is usually written in kana.
先さき 程ほど Usage 9%
Alternate kanji form; less common than 先ほど but still seen.
さきほど Usage 9%
Similar words さっき Casual equivalent of 先ほど; used in everyday conversation, while 先ほど is more polite and formal.
先せん 刻こく More literary and old-fashioned; also means 'a short while ago' but is rarely used in modern speech.
Etymology Compound of 先 (saki, 'before') and 程 (hodo, 'extent, time'). The kana spelling ほど for the second element became standard in modern usage.
