Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Almost" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "almost", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
ほとんど
ほとんど (hotondo)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
ほぼ
ほぼ (hobo)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "almost" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between ほとんど and ほぼ.
In Japanese, ほとんど (ほとんど (hotondo)) is typically associated with "almost, hardly, scarcely (with negative), mostly, nearly all" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Indicates that something is very close to 100% or very close to 0%. Often used with negative verbs.
On the other hand, ほぼ (ほぼ (hobo)) maps to "almost, roughly, approximately" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Indicates that something is very close to a particular state, quantity, or time, but not exactly. Stronger than 'だいたい'. A literal translation of "almost" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "ほとんど"
宿題はほとんど終わりました。
The homework is almost finished.
Bilingual Context for "ほぼ"
宿題はほぼ終わった。
My homework is almost finished.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "宿題は ＿＿＿ 終わりました。" (Meaning: "The homework is almost finished.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "ほとんど" fits here because it means "almost, hardly, scarcely (with negative), mostly, nearly all" in the context of: "The homework is almost finished.". "ほぼ" represents "almost, roughly, approximately".