直前(ちょくぜん)に

Composed of 直(ちょく) (direct, immediately) and 前(ぜん) (before) + に (adverbial particle). Often used without に when modifying a noun directly: 直前(ちょくぜん)の準備(じゅんび) (last-minute preparations). The の form functions as a pre-noun modifier.

Common collocations

• 出発(しゅっぱつ)直前(ちょくぜん)に: right before departure
• 締(し)め切(き)り直前(ちょくぜん)に: just before the deadline
• 直前(ちょくぜん)になって: at the last moment
• 直前(ちょくぜん)まで: until the very last moment

Similar words

• 寸前(すんぜん)に: on the verge of — emphasizes extreme closeness, often to danger or crisis
• 直後(ちょくご)に: immediately after — the temporal opposite
• ぎりぎりに: at the last possible moment — more colloquial, emphasizes barely making it