sakki konbini de mizu o kaimashita.

direct object particle

Breakdown of sakki konbini de mizu o kaimashita.

• 水みず: water
• で: location particle
• 買かう: to buy

Questions & Answers about sakki konbini de mizu o kaimashita.

Why is there no word for I in this sentence?

Japanese often leaves out the subject when it is clear from context.

So in さっき　コンビニ　で　水　を　買いました。, the speaker is usually understood to mean something like I bought water at the convenience store a little while ago, even though I is not said.

This is very normal in Japanese. If the subject is obvious, it is often omitted.

• 私はさっきコンビニで水を買いました。 = more explicit
• さっきコンビニで水を買いました。 = natural if the listener already knows who is being talked about

What does さっき mean exactly?

さっき means a little while ago, just now, or earlier.

It is a casual everyday word for recent past time.

Some related expressions:

• さっき = a little while ago, casual
• 今さっき = just now, very recent
• 先ほど（さきほど） = a little while ago, but more polite/formal

So さっき fits well in ordinary conversation.

Why is there no particle after さっき? Why not さっきに?

Many Japanese time expressions do not take に, especially relative time words.

さっき is one of those words. So:

• さっき買いました。 = correct
• = unnatural/incorrect