ほとんど (hotondo) Japanese meaning: almost | Kotomoraは
ほとんど
終
わっ
た
。
I've almost finished my homework.
Most of the customers at this shop are women.
Usage patterns
〈事〉はほとんど終わっているsomething is almost finished
My homework is almost finished.
ほとんど〈動詞〉ないhardly ever does (something)
〈人〉のほとんどが〈動詞〉most of a group of people do (something)
Most of the students agreed.
ほとんど毎〈時〉almost every (day/week/etc.)
She jogs almost every day.
Expressions
ほとんどないhardly any; almost none; very little
大方
N1
ほとんど means 'almost all' or 'nearly', and can replace 大方 when describing something that is nearly complete or true.
ほとんど stresses quantity, meaning 'almost all', while 主に stresses which part or aspect is most important, not necessarily the majority.
ほとんど broadly means 'almost all' in any context, while 半ば in this sense is more narrowly used with words like 強制的に to mean 'nearly' or 'practically'.
幾ど
Usage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Very rare kanji form; not recommended.
