Translation guide
Expresses a location directly ahead of a reference point, often with emphasis on immediacy or closeness.
To say that something is located right in front of a specific place or object.
The most common and natural way to say 'just in front of'. すぐ means 'immediately' or 'right', and 前 means 'front'. Use with a noun + の.
駅のすぐ前にコンビニがあります。
There is a convenience store just in front of the station.
He sat down just in front of me.
Literally 'before one's eyes', this emphasizes that something is directly in front and very close, often with a sense of immediacy or unavoidability. Slightly more vivid than すぐ前.
事故が私の目の前で起こった。
The accident happened just in front of me.
ホテルはビーチの目の前です。
The hotel is right in front of the beach.
Means 'directly in front' or 'facing'. Often used for buildings or objects that face each other. More formal than 前.
銀行は郵便局の正面にあります。
The bank is just in front of the post office.
To describe something happening right before a specific event or point in time.
直前 means 'just before' in time. Use with a noun or verb phrase to indicate the moment immediately preceding an event.
出発の直前に電話が鳴った。
The phone rang just before departure.
彼は試験の直前に慌てて勉強した。
He crammed just before the exam.
Can also be used for time, though 直前 is more precise for 'just before'. すぐ前 can mean 'shortly before'.
会議のすぐ前に資料を配った。
I distributed the materials just before the meeting.
To indicate that someone or something is moving or positioned right in front of another moving entity.
Use with motion verbs (歩く, 走る, 通る) to mean 'just in front of' while moving. The particle を marks the path.
子供が車のすぐ前を横切った。
A child crossed just in front of the car.
Both mean 'just in front of', but 目の前 is more vivid and often implies something happening right before your eyes, sometimes with surprise or shock. すぐ前 is more neutral and simply states proximity.
彼は私のすぐ前に立っていた。
He was standing just in front of me. (neutral)
彼が突然私の目の前に現れた。
He suddenly appeared right in front of me. (dramatic)
If you only need 'in front of' without the emphasis on immediacy, use ～の前 (まえ) without すぐ. Adding すぐ makes it 'just' or 'right' in front.