Japanese word

目前

Pronunciation

Romajimokuzen

Meaning

  • nounimminent

Example

締め切りが目前です。shi me ki ri ga moku zen de su

The deadline is imminent.

Illustration for 目前 (imminent)

More examples

試験の日が目前に迫っています。shi ken no hi ga moku zen ni sema tte i ma su

The day of the exam is fast approaching.

Core concept

It marks an event or object as close enough to feel immediately present, with the exact closeness understood from the context.

Common phrases

  • 目前に迫るmoku zen ni sema ru

    be imminent

  • 目前に控えるmoku zen ni hika e ru

    be close at hand

Similar words

間近majika: Describes a time or event that is very close and likely to happen soon.
直前chokuzen: The period or moment right before an event.
寸前sunzen: The final point before an event takes place.

Definition in Japanese

物事がすぐ近くまで迫っていること、または目の前にあること。mono goto ga su gu chika ku ma de sema tte i ru ko to ma ta wa me no mae ni a ru ko to

Word origin

目前 (mokuzen) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 目 (moku, "eye") and 前 (zen, "front"), linking nearness with what stands before the eyes.

Usage tips

  • English imminent normally concerns a future event, but 目前 (mokuzen) also applies to something that is visibly before a person's eyes, making context important when translating it.

Other meanings

  • close at handnoun
  • before one's very eyesnoun

Word lists with this word