Translation guide
Expresses being very close to a critical or extreme situation, often negative. Japanese uses various constructions depending on whether the brink is a noun, a verb, or an idiomatic phrase.
To say that someone or something is about to experience a disaster, crisis, or undesirable outcome.
Literally 'at the critical juncture of ~'. Used for serious situations like life/death, success/failure, war/peace. Attach to a noun.
彼は生死の瀬戸際にいる。
He is on the brink of life and death.
会社は倒産の瀬戸際だ。
The company is on the brink of bankruptcy.
Literally 'just before ~'. Very common and versatile. Attach to a noun or verb stem.
彼は怒りが爆発する寸前だった。
He was on the brink of exploding with anger.
交渉は決裂寸前だ。
The negotiations are on the brink of breaking down.
Formal expression meaning 'facing the crisis of ~'. Often used in news or serious contexts.
その国は内戦の危機に瀕している。
The country is on the brink of civil war.
Literally 'about to do ~'. Used with verbs. Less dramatic than 'brink', but conveys imminent action.
彼は泣き出すところだった。
She was on the brink of tears.
Literally 'one step before ~'. Emphasizes the closeness to a state. Casual nuance.
彼はキレる一歩手前だった。
He was on the brink of snapping.
To express being on the verge of a breakthrough, discovery, or significant achievement.
Literally 'right before one's eyes'. Used for imminent success or realization of a goal.
成功は目前だ。
Success is on the brink.
彼らは大発見の目前にいる。
They are on the brink of a major discovery.
Literally 'just before the moment of ~'. Often used for temporal proximity to an event.
出発の間際になって、彼は忘れ物に気づいた。
On the brink of departure, he realized he had forgotten something.
Literally 'stand on the edge of ~'. Poetic or literary expression for being on the brink of something profound.
彼は新時代の淵に立っている。
He stands on the brink of a new era.
寸前 is more common and can be used for both positive and negative situations, while 瀬戸際 is reserved for critical, often life-or-death junctures. 寸前 attaches to nouns or verb stems, 瀬戸際 attaches to nouns.
Do not translate 'on the brink of' word-for-word as ～の縁に. This is not idiomatic Japanese. Use the patterns above instead.