Structure
ほとんど + Phrase
ほとんど + (Negative) Phrase
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一般
About ほとんど
The adverb ほとんど is used in many situations in Japanese, and often translates as 'most', 'hardly any', 'almost all', and similar expressions. The nuance will always depend on the rest of the sentence. The most accurate translation for the word ほとんど itself is simply 'almost', where the thing that it is describing is always considered to be a full group, rather than a single thing.
As with many other adverbs that highlight an 'amount' in Japanese, ほとんど can modify a whole phrase, or can be used before の, to further specify a single noun.
As with many other adverbs that highlight an 'amount' in Japanese, ほとんど can modify a whole phrase, or can be used before の, to further specify a single noun.
- 宿題はほとんど終わっているよ。Most of my homework is done.
- 弁当はほとんど食べてないけど、おやつは全部食べた。I didn't eat most of my lunch, but I ate all the snacks.
- ほとんどの人は私の名前を読めません。Most people can't read my name.
- ほとんどの大学生は親と住んでいます。Most college students live with their parents.
- 今年は屋台がほとんどないね。There are hardly any food stalls this year.
- 週末に出かけることはほとんどないです。I hardly go out during the weekends.
Synonyms
Examples
みんなは、ほとんど帰りました。
Almost everyone has gone home.
今日は宿題がほとんどない。
There is hardly any homework today.
この湖はほとんど浅いと思う。
This lake is mostly shallow, I think.
えっ!この魚ほとんど匂いがない。
Huh?! This fish hardly has any smell.
締め切りまでに出す生徒がほとんどいなかった。
Hardly any students submitted (the paper) before the deadline.
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ほとんど
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ほとんど – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (6 in total)
s1212z
About 4 years ago
Hi deltacat3!
This sounds correct to me. The starting point in past is in the context of course but I think there are some special meaning 行っている or action verbs with いる that was mentioned in Guide to Japanese (see motion verb section). They mention it doesn’t necessarily have a “going” type of implication but this sounds like word play to me. Also
Superpnut
About 2 years ago
I don’t know if this was intended or not so I am just posting here in case it isn’t.
The review accepted あまり when the review is for ほとんど. Normally when Bunpro is looking for a particular grammar point it makes it pretty clear but it just accepted it this time. Which is odd since I don’t even know is あまり would actually work since after reviewing it it appears it has to be immediately followed by a noun/adj/verb. Anyways
今日は宿題が --ほとんど-- ない。Is the grammar point
Fuga
About 2 years ago
Hey! This seems like a input error on our end, and We have just fixed it! あまりない can work here and be understood, however, having a noun/adj/verb after あまり would flow better and make the sentence sound more natural.
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