1.
just before; verge; brink; right at the moment of
The moment immediately before something happens. Indicates the very last moment or the brink of an event or deadline.
出発間際に電話が鳴った。
The phone rang just as I was about to leave.
締め切り間際になって慌てて仕上げた。
I rushed to finish it right before the deadline.
死ぬ間際に、彼は家族に最後の言葉を残した。
On the verge of death, he left his final words for his family.
Typically follows a verb in dictionary form or a noun: ～間際. Emphasizes the very last moment before something occurs.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 出発間際 (just before departure)
- 締め切り間際 (right before the deadline)
- 死ぬ間際 (on the verge of death)
- 閉店間際 (just before closing time)
PATTERN:
- verb (dictionary form) + 間際 (just before doing ~)
- noun + 間際 (just before the ~)
Similar to 直前 (immediately before), but 間際 has a more vivid, moment-by-moment feeling.