Word Detail

The Japanese word 先程 (さきほど) means "a little while ago," "a moment ago," or "just now." It refers to a time very recently past, usually within the last hour or so. It implies that the event or action is still relatively fresh in the speaker's mind. The timing is more recent than 以前 (いぜん - before) and closer to the present than さっき (just a while ago).

⚫︎先程、電話がありました。 Translation: I received a phone call just now. ⚫︎先程、山田さんに会いました。 Translation: I met Mr. Yamada a little while ago. ⚫︎先程、食べたケーキはとても美味しかったです。 Translation: The cake I ate a moment ago was very delicious.

You use 先程 in formal and informal situations, although it leans slightly more towards formal. It's suitable for conversations, emails, and written communication. It’s important to remember that it describes a very recent past, so the action must have occurred very close to the moment of speaking. It can be used as a standalone adverb or used to modify a verb, indicating when the action occurred.

先程 is typically written in kanji and hiragana: 先程. The kanji 先 means "before" or "previous," and 程 indicates an extent or degree of time. The reading is さきほど. There are no other ways to write this word. The okurigana is standard, with no variation.

⚫︎たった今 (tatta ima) - just now ⚫︎さっき (sakki) - a while ago, just now (more casual) ⚫︎ついさっき (tsui sakki) - just a moment ago ⚫︎少し前 (sukoshi mae) - a little while ago ⚫︎先ほどから (sakihodo kara) - since a little while ago (indicates duration) ⚫︎先程の (sakihodo no) - of 先程

⚫︎後で (atode) - later ⚫︎以前 (izen) - before, previously ⚫︎昔 (mukashi) - in the past, long ago

先程、受付で名前を書きました。 ・Translation: I wrote my name at the reception desk a moment ago. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 先程 to clearly indicate that the act of writing the name occurred very recently.

先程の会議では、新しいプロジェクトについて話し合いました。 ・Translation: In the meeting a little while ago, we discussed the new project. ・Explanation: This example explains that the meeting where the topic was discussed happened recently.

The word 先程 is formed from 先 (saki), which means "before" or "previous", and 程 (hodo), which means "degree" or "extent" of something. It is a compound word that literally implies "the degree of the previous time" or "the extent of the time before now." Thus, it indicates a relatively short time ago.