Japanese word

大方

Pronunciation

Romajiōkata

Meaning

  • nounmost

Example

仕事の大方が終わりました。shi goto no ō kata ga o wa ri ma shi ta

Most of the work is finished.

Illustration for 大方 (most)

More examples

大方の人はその計画に賛成しています。ō kata no hito wa so no kei kaku ni san sei shi te i ma su

Most people support the plan.

Core concept

It points to the larger part of a whole, whether the whole consists of people, things, or an amount.

Common phrases

  • 大方の人ō kata no hito

    most people

  • 大方の予想ō kata no yo sō

    the general expectation

Similar words

大半taihan: The greater part of a whole, usually more than half.
大部分daibubun: The main portion of a group, amount, or whole.
ほとんどhotondo: Nearly all or the greater part of something.

Definition in Japanese

全体のうち、数量や範囲の大部分を占めるもの。zen tai no u chi sū ryō ya han i no dai bu bun o shi me ru mo no

Word origin

The native Japanese compound 大方 (ōkata) combines 大 (ō, "large") and 方 (kata, "side" or "part"), giving the sense of the larger part of a whole.

Usage tips

  • 大方 (ōkata) also occurs as an adverb meaning generally or roughly, so context shows whether it refers to most of something or to an approximate judgment.

Other meanings

  • majoritynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word