間際(まぎわ)

まぎわ
noun
just before; verge; brink
time-general
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(しゅっぱつ)間際(まぎわ)に電話(でんわ)が鳴(な)った。
The phone rang just as I was about to leave.
締(し)め切(き)り間際(まぎわ)になって慌(あわ)てて仕上(しあ)げた。
I rushed to finish it right before the deadline.
死(し)ぬ間際(まぎわ)に、彼(かれ)は家族(かぞく)に最後(さいご)の言葉(ことば)を残(のこ)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(まぎわ). Emphasizes the very last moment before something occurs.

Common collocations

Common patterns

  • verb (dictionary form) + 間際(まぎわ) (just before doing ~)
  • noun + 間際(まぎわ) (just before the ~)

Similar to 直前(ちょくぜん) (immediately before), but 間際(まぎわ) has a more vivid, moment-by-moment feeling.

Related Words

Synonym: 直前(ちょくぜん) (immediately before (neutral))
general
Added 2026.3.2 16:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
14500/14564_magiwa