adverbial N4 common casual
さっき — a little while ago
さっき
Meaning
- a little while ago / just now — the recent past, within the last short span
Key sentence
さっき電話があったよ。
There was a phone call a little while ago.
Usage
Casual only. In polite or formal speech use 先ほど instead.
Examples
さっき食べたばかりだから、お腹いっぱい。
I just ate a little while ago, so I'm full.
さっきの話、もう一度聞かせて。
Tell me again about what you mentioned just now.
さっきからずっと待っているんだけど。
I've been waiting all this time since a while ago.
Easily confused with
Notes
- From 先 ('previously'); the polite equivalent is 先ほど. Note さっきの + noun = 'the ~ from earlier' (さっきの人 = 'that person from before').
See さっき in real sentences
Jengo shows さっき the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.