さっき | Grammar

Structure

さっき + [sentence]

今さっき + [sentence]

Standalone time adverb; placed at sentence start or before the verb.

Description

さっき is a time adverb meaning "just now", "a moment ago", or "a little while ago". It refers to a point in the recent past – something that happened a short time before the present moment. The exact time frame is vague but typically ranges from a few minutes to perhaps an hour or so ago.

さっき is used as a standalone adverb and can appear at the beginning of a sentence, before the verb, or in other typical adverb positions.

。

You had a phone call just now.

。

I just ate a moment ago.

さっき vs. 今さっき

Adding いま今 before さっき emphasizes that the event happened very recently – just moments ago.

いまさっき今さっき。

It arrived just this very moment.

さっき vs. さきほど

(先ほど) is the polite/formal equivalent of さっき. In business settings, emails, or formal speech, is preferred.

でしょうきごう？

I told you just now, didn't I? (casual)

。

It is as I mentioned earlier. (formal)

Usage notes

Since さっき refers to a past event, it is most naturally paired with past tense verbs. Using さっき with present or future tense would sound unnatural.

Examples

たなか田中。

I saw Mr. Tanaka just now.

、きごう？

Did you see the email from earlier?

、きごう？

Do you remember what I said just now?

。

It was raining until just a moment ago.

。

I bought bread at the convenience store a little while ago.

、きごう？

You just got here a moment ago, and you're already leaving?

、きごう？

Is what you said earlier true?

、。

I called you just now, but you didn't answer.

、。

I ate just a little while ago, but I'm already hungry.

、。

I'm sure I put the key here just now, but it's gone.

らしい。

Apparently there was an accident in front of the station a moment ago.

、。

That test we just took was hard, wasn't it?

References

Time IV Relative Timeimabi.org