1.
a little while ago; a bit earlier; just before
Refers to a short time before the present or before some specified moment. Can describe minutes, hours, days, or weeks earlier depending on context.
少し前に帰ったよ。
He went home a little while ago.
少し前まで彼女とは連絡を取っていた。
Until a little while ago, I was in touch with her.
少し前にこの辺で大きな事故があったらしい。
Apparently there was a big accident around here a little while ago.
Compound of 少し (a little) + 前 (before, ago). The amount of time is left vague — context determines whether "a little" means minutes or months.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 少し前に: a little while ago (most common)
- 少し前まで: until a little while ago
- ほんの少し前: just a moment ago (emphasized)
- 少し前の話: a recent story
SIMILAR WORDS:
- さっき: a little while ago — casual, usually means very recently (minutes)
- 先程: a moment ago (polite) — formal equivalent of さっき
- ちょっと前: a bit ago — synonymous and interchangeable
- この間: the other day — usually days or weeks ago