先程

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: Spelling: 先程. Reading: さきほど. Core meaning: a short while ago; just now.
• Basic usage: Representative examples: 先程お電話をいただいた件について確認しました / 先程まで晴れていたのに、急に雨が降り始めた.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The recent past
  • 先程 refers to the not-distant past and fits announcements or business conversation. It sounds somewhat more polite than さっき, but it does not define an exact length of time.