だいたい | Grammar

Structure

だいたい + [number] だいたい + [verb] だいたいの + [noun]

Description

だいたい is an adverb meaning "about", "mostly" or "usually". In front of a number it makes the figure approximate; in front of a verb it says the action is mostly done or mostly true.

、。

It's about 10 minutes from here to the station.

。

It costs about 3,000 yen.

。

I've mostly finished my homework.

。

I mostly understood.

after the number repeats the "about" and is common in speech.

Usually

With a habit, だいたい means "usually". With a clock time it means "usually, and at about that time" at once.

。

I'm usually at home on weekends.

。

I usually get up at around 7.

だいたい, ほとんど and 約

is "almost all" and claims more than だいたい does.

is the written "approximately" and goes straight before a number; だいたい is the spoken one and can go further from it.

。

I've almost finished my homework.

。

It takes approximately 10 minutes.

Usage notes

These go beyond "about" and "mostly".

だいたいの before a noun

With の, だいたい describes a noun: the general idea, the rough amount.

、。

After the explanation, I understood most of it.

。

Tell me roughly where it is.

"In the first place"

At the head of a complaint, だいたい means "to begin with". This one is blunt and belongs to arguments.

、。

In the first place, it's your fault for coming late.

Examples

。

I mostly understood.

、いち1。

It takes roughly one hour from here to the airport.

。

I've mostly finished my homework.

。

I usually wake up at around 7 in the morning.

。

There are approximately 20 students in this class.

。

I've mostly gotten used to life in Japan.

。

I generally understand what he's trying to say.

。

Work generally finishes at around 6 o'clock.

、。

After listening to the explanation, I was able to understand most of it.

。

I'm usually at home on weekends.

。

You can make this dish in roughly 30 minutes.

。

The preparations are mostly done.

References

だいたいBunpro