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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Standard
使用域
一般
About だいたい
大体 is an adverb that is used to highlight the 'main point' of something in Japanese, and therefore has several different nuances. 大体 will regularly be translated as 'mostly', 'generally', or 'for the most part'.
As with other adverbs that highlight amounts, 大体 can be used to modify entire phrases, or can be used directly before a noun as 大体の + noun.
As with other adverbs that highlight amounts, 大体 can be used to modify entire phrases, or can be used directly before a noun as 大体の + noun.
- だいたいでいいから何時くらいに着くか教えて。Since a general time is okay, can you let me know around when you will arrive?
- 水曜日はだいたい5時に起きています。On Wednesdays, I generally wake up at 5 am.
- だいたいの人たち薔薇という漢字を書けません。Most people do not know how to write the kanji 'bara'. (薔薇 is the kanji for 'rose')
- だいたいなんでお前がここにいるの?Why are you here in the first place? (No one wants you here)
Fun Fact
A common synonym for 大体 is 根本, a noun which means 'the source', or 'the origin' or something. In this way, 大体 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.- と言うことは私たちが言っていることはだいたい一緒なのね。In that case, what we are both saying is the same in essence.
Examples
「日本語がだいたい分かる。」
'I roughly understand Japanese.'
焼きたてパンについて話しているカップル、
彼女:「どう?」
彼氏:「だいたいいいと思うんだけど、」Couple talking about freshly baked bread:
Girlfriend: 'How is it?'
Boyfriend: 'I think it is mostly good, but…' (adequately)「彼女はだいたいの状況を知っています。」
'She has the general idea of the situation.'
電話にでている子供:「父はだいたい5時ごろ帰ります。」
Child answering the phone: 'Dad usually comes home around 5.'
だいたい is very often used with words like ころ(ごろ),くらい(ぐらい), etc.
このサイトにいる人は、だいたい真面目な人だと思う。外国語を学ぶときはそれが必要だからね。
I think that people on this site are mostly diligent. Because you need that when learning a foreign language.
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だいたい vs. たいてい
iTalki
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Tobira
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だいたい – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
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
@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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