つい昨日

ついきのう
expression
just yesterday; only yesterday
time-general
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(きのう)会(あ)ったばかりだ。
I just met them yesterday.
つい昨日(きのう)のことのように覚(おぼ)えている。
I remember it as if it were just yesterday.
つい昨日(きのう)まで元気(げんき)だったのに、急(きゅう)に入院(にゅういん)した。
He was perfectly well only yesterday, yet he was suddenly hospitalized.

つい adds the nuance of "only just," making 昨日(きのう) feel very recent or surprisingly close.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: つい先日(せんじつ) (just the other day)
general
Added 2026.5.24 13:10 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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