This is the 9318th most frequent Japanese word.
直に
"直に" means "directly" or "soon."
In this sentence, '直に' (じかに) expresses the manner in which the question was asked, implying direct interaction without intermediaries.
彼は直に先生に質問をしました。
He directly asked the teacher a question.
Here, '直に' emphasizes direct communication between the speaker and the listener, avoiding indirect means such as letters or messages.
その話については、後で直にお話しします。
Regarding that matter, I will speak to you directly later.
In this usage, '直に' conveys the concept of direct contact or occurrence, specifying that the shadow connects directly to the ground.