Translation guide
The English word 'almost' is used to mean 'nearly' or 'not quite'. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various adverbs and phrases depending on the context, such as degree of completion, quantity, or time.
Expressing that something is close to happening or being the case, but not completely.
The most common and versatile word for 'almost'. It can be used with verbs, adjectives, and nouns. Often implies 'most' or 'nearly all'.
宿題はほとんど終わった。
I've almost finished my homework.
ほとんど毎日ジョギングをしている。
I go jogging almost every day.
Literally 'with a little more', used before a verb to mean 'almost' or 'nearly' did something, often with a sense of 'came close to'. Commonly used with past tense verbs.
もう少しで電車に乗り遅れるところだった。
I almost missed the train.
Means 'almost' or 'nearly' in a factual, quantitative sense. Often used with numbers, percentages, or to mean 'virtually'. Slightly more formal than ほとんど.
その計画はほぼ完了した。
The plan is almost complete.
参加者のほぼ半数が女性だった。
Almost half of the participants were women.
Indicating that a quantity or number is close to a specific value.
Means 'approximately' or 'about'. Used before numbers. More precise than 'almost' but often interchangeable in context.
約100人が集まった。
Almost 100 people gathered.
As above, used with numbers to mean 'almost' or 'nearly'.
ほぼ全員が賛成した。
Almost everyone agreed.
Can also be used with quantities, meaning 'almost all' or 'most'.
Describing a situation where an action nearly occurred, often with a negative outcome.
Attach to the verb stem (masu-form without ます) to mean 'almost did (unintentionally)' or 'was about to'. Often used for accidental or undesirable events.
Used with dictionary form of verb. Emphasizes that something was narrowly avoided. Often used with past tense.
もう少しで忘れるところだった。
I almost forgot.
Similar to もう少しで, but implies a sense of danger or risk. Somewhat formal/literary.
危うく事故に遭うところだった。
I was almost in an accident.
Expressing that something is almost not the case, i.e., 'hardly' or 'barely'.
Used with a negative verb or adjective to mean 'hardly', 'barely', or 'almost no'. The negative form is essential.
ほとんど寝ていない。
I've hardly slept.
ほとんど違いがない。
There's almost no difference.
Means 'rarely' or 'almost never'. Used with negative verb.
彼はめったに怒らない。
He almost never gets angry.
ほとんど is more subjective and can imply 'most' or 'practically'. ほぼ is more objective and quantitative, often used with numbers or factual statements. ほとんど can be used with negative forms (ほとんど〜ない), while ほぼ is not typically used that way.
English 'almost' can modify many parts of speech, but Japanese often requires different constructions. For example, 'almost never' is not ほとんど決して but めったに〜ない. 'Almost all' can be ほとんど全部 or ほぼ全て. Pay attention to the natural collocations.
ほとんど全部食べてしまった。
I ate almost all of it.