Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 5: 10/20

大体(だいたい)Most・mostly, Adequately・generally, For the most part, Roughly・approximately, In the first place

Structure

だいたい + Phrase
だいたい + Number(1)
だいたい + の + Noun

(1) Degree

Details

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About だいたい

大体(だいたい) is an adverb that is used to highlight the 'main point' of something in Japanese, and therefore has several different nuances. 大体(だいたい) will regularly be translated as 'mostly', 'generally', or 'for the most part'.

As with other adverbs that highlight amounts, 大体(だいたい) can be used to modify entire phrases, or can be used directly before a noun as 大体(だいたい)の + noun.

In a similar way to そもそも, a noun/adverb which means 'in the first place', 大体(だいたい) can also have this meaning. This nuance is frequently quite obvious, as the rest of the sentence will highlight a desired outcome that unfortunately did not happen.

Although these 2 primary uses of 大体(だいたい) may seem quite different, they are both just expressing what is 'essentially' correct, most common, the original, etc.

Fun Fact

A common synonym for 大体(だいたい) is 根本(ねもと), a noun which means 'the source', or 'the origin' of something. In this way, 大体(だいたい) just expresses the way something is, without receiving any alterations (regardless of whether any subsequent alterations are positive or negative). This is where the 'in essence' meaning comes from.
  • と言(い)うことは私(わたし)たちが言(い)っていることはだいたい一緒(いっしょ)なのね。
    In that case, what we are both saying is the same in essence.

Examples

--:--

    「日本語(にほんご)が大体(だいたい)わかる。」

    'I roughly understand Japanese.' (for the most part)

    「大体(だいたい)３(さん)時間(じかん)くらいでできます。」

    'It will be ready in approximately 3 hours.' (roughly)

    「彼女(かのじょ)は大体(だいたい)の状況(じょうきょう)を知(し)っています。」

    'She has the general idea of the situation.' (adequate・mostly)

    焼(や)きたてパンについて話(はな)しているカップル、
    彼女(かのじょ)：「どう？」
    彼氏(かれし)：「大体(だいたい)いいと思(おも)うんだけど、」

    Couple talking about freshly baked bread:
    Girlfriend: 'How is it?'
    Boyfriend: 'I think it is mostly good, but…'

    電話(でんわ)にでている子供(こども)：「父(ちち)は大体(だいたい)５時(ごじ)ごろ帰(かえ)ります。」

    Child answering the phone: 'Dad usually comes home around 5.'

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だいたい – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • flowsnake

    flowsnake

    [だいたい is very often used with words like ころ（ごろ）, くらい（ぐらい）, etc.]

    Does this emphasize the “approximate” part of those other words, or is some other meaning added?

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    @flowsnake

    Hey and sorry for the late answer

    Yes, だいたい is used together with those to emphasize that it is not the exact amount, but “more or less” about that much and to make the sentence a bit more casual.

    I hope it helps,
    Cheers!

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