1.
just yesterday; only yesterday
Refers to the very recent past, often to stress that something feels surprisingly recent. The adverb つい means "just (now)" or "only a moment ago."
つい昨日会ったばかりだ。
I just met them yesterday.
つい昨日のことのように覚えている。
I remember it as if it were just yesterday.
つい昨日まで元気だったのに、急に入院した。
He was perfectly well only yesterday, yet he was suddenly hospitalized.
つい adds the nuance of "only just," making 昨日 feel very recent or surprisingly close.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- つい昨日のことのようだ: it feels like just yesterday
- つい先日: just the other day (a few days ago)
- ついさっき: just a moment ago
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 昨日: yesterday — neutral, without the "only just" nuance