Japanese Conversation · Level 4
86 words
Japanese word
およそ
Pronunciation
Romajioyoso
Meaning
- adverbabout
Example
およそ一時間かかります。o yo so ichi ji kan ka ka ri ma su
It takes about one hour.
More examples
このかばんはおよそ一万円です。ko no ka ba n wa o yo so ichi man en de su
This bag costs approximately ten thousand yen.
Core concept
Places a quantity or extent within a close but not exact range.
Common phrases
およそ一か月o yo so ichi ka getsu
about one month
およそ五割o yo so go wari
about fifty percent
およそ二倍o yo so ni bai
about twice
およそ二十人o yo so ni jū nin
about twenty people
Similar words
だいたいdaitai: A casual adverb that indicates an approximate amount, duration, or extent.
おおよそōyoso: An adverb for stating an amount or extent in a rough numerical range.
約yaku: A brief adverb used with numbers or amounts to indicate an estimate.
概ねōmune: A formal adverb indicating that an amount or extent is generally within a stated range.
Definition in Japanese
数量や程度を、細かな違いを問題にせず大まかに示す語。sū ryō ya tei do o koma ka na chiga i o mon dai ni se zu ō ma ka ni shime su go
Word origin
The native Japanese adverb およそ (oyoso) developed from おおよそ (ōyoso), with the shorter form retaining the meaning "approximately".
Usage tips
- およそ (oyoso) is useful when a speaker gives an estimated amount, while an exact number would make the statement more precise than intended.
Other meanings
- approximatelyadverb
- roughlyadverb
Opposites
- 正確にseikakuniexactlyadverb