さっき
sakki
A thumb jerked over the shoulder
The picture A thumb jerked back over the shoulder to point at the spot just gone by. さっき is close behind, within reach; あとで is just ahead.
Where the picture shows up in さっき
-
something just past
さっき田中さんから電話がありました。
sa-kki ta-na-ka-san ka-ra den-wa ga a-ri-ma-shi-ta
Tanaka called a moment ago.
The handset is back in its cradle and the spot is still warm
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that person, that thing
さっきの人はお客さんですか。
sa-kki no hi-to wa o-kya-ku-san de-su ka
Was that person just now a customer?
Eyes following the back of someone who has just left, toward the door, as the question comes
As さっきの it picks out a noun.
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from then until now
さっきから外で待っています。
sa-kki ka-ra so-to de ma-tte i-ma-su
She's been waiting outside since a little while ago.
Where the person stands by the window the snow has melted into a small round patch
With から it runs right up to the present.
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what was said just now
さっき言ったように、五時に閉めます。
sa-kki i-tta you ni, go-ji ni shi-me-ma-su
As I said a moment ago, we close at five.
Pointing once more at the sign you pointed to only minutes before
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something just done
薬はさっき飲みました。
ku-su-ri wa sa-kki no-mi-ma-shi-ta
I took the medicine just now.
An empty water glass and a torn sachet still sitting on the table
All of it in one picture
さっき is a thumb jerked back over the shoulder. Point it at a phone call and the call has just come; point it at a person and it is "that one, a moment ago". Draw a line from there to now and she has been waiting since; point it at your own words and it is "as I just said"; point it at a torn sachet and the medicine is already taken. Without naming a time, さっき says: just behind you, within reach.