1.
just before, on the verge of, right before
The moment immediately before something happens. Often used for dramatic or critical situations where something nearly occurred.
Common patterns
寸前 attaches directly to nouns (Xの寸前 or X寸前) to mean "just before X" or "on the verge of X." It can also follow the dictionary form of verbs with の or する (e.g., 爆発する寸前).
Common collocations
- 衝突寸前 — just before collision
- 倒産寸前 — on the verge of bankruptcy
- 締め切り寸前 — just before the deadline
- 崩壊寸前 — on the verge of collapse
Similar words
直前 also means just before but is more neutral and commonly used for scheduled events. 寸前 has a more dramatic nuance, often implying a close call or near miss.