Japanese word

ほぼ

Pronunciation

Romajihobo

Meaning

  • adverbalmost

Example

仕事はほぼ終わりました。shi goto wa ho bo o wa ri ma shi ta

The work is almost finished.

Illustration for ほぼ (almost)

More examples

この二つの説明はほぼ同じです。ko no futa tsu no setsu mei wa ho bo ona ji de su

These two explanations are almost the same.

Core concept

Shows that something reaches nearly all of a whole or comes very close to an expected condition.

Common phrases

  • ほぼ全部ho bo zen bu

    almost all

  • ほぼ全員ho bo zen in

    almost everyone

  • ほぼ毎日ho bo mai nichi

    almost every day

  • ほぼ同じho bo ona ji

    almost the same

Similar words

ほとんどhotondo: Shows that nearly all of something is included or that an action or state is nearly complete.
だいたいdaitai: Shows an approximate amount, degree, or overall state without requiring exactness.

Definition in Japanese

物事の状態や数量が、完全な状態や全体に近いさま。mono goto no jō tai ya sū ryō ga kan zen na jō tai ya zen tai ni chika i sa ma

Word origin

The Japanese adverb ほぼ (hobo) has no established component breakdown or borrowing source, so its exact origin is uncertain, but the form has long been used for approximation.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, ほぼ (hobo) can mean mostly as well as almost, so ほぼ全員 (hobo zen'in) means that nearly everyone in the group is included.

Other meanings

  • mostlyadverb

Opposites

  • 完全にkanzennicompletelyadverb

Word lists with this word