Japanese Conversation · Level 40
90 words
Japanese word
大部分
Pronunciation
Romajidaibubun
Meaning
- nounmost
Example
仕事の大部分が終わりました。shi goto no dai bu bun ga o wa ri ma shi ta
Most of the work is finished.
More examples
参加者の大部分がその案に賛成しました。san ka sha no dai bu bun ga so no an ni san sei shi ma shi ta
Most of the participants agreed with the plan.
Core concept
It points to the large share of a whole, without including every part.
Common phrases
大部分を占めるdai bu bun o shi me ru
account for most
大部分の時間dai bu bun no ji kan
most of the time
Similar words
大半taihan: The greater part of a whole, while some part remains outside it.
ほとんどhotondo: Almost the whole of a group, amount, or set, with little left over.
大多数daitasū: The larger number of members in a group or collection.
過半数kahansū: A number or amount that exceeds half of the total.
Definition in Japanese
全体を構成するもののうち、数量や範囲の大半を占める部分。zen tai o kō sei su ru mo no no u chi sū ryō ya han i no tai han o shi me ru bu bun
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese compound 大部分 (daibubun) combines 大 (dai, "large") with 部分 (bubun, "part") to mean a large part of a whole.
Usage tips
- 大部分 (daibubun) is more common in formal explanations than in casual speech, where ほとんど (hotondo) often sounds more natural.
Other meanings
- majoritynoun
Opposites
- 少数shōsūminoritynoun