ほぼ

ほ

ぼ

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

1

usually written using kana alone

Indicates that something is close to a state or quantity, but not completely. Often used with quantities, percentages, or descriptive phrases.

仕し事ごとはほぼ終おわった。

The work is almost finished.

参さん加か者しゃのほぼ全ぜん員いんが賛さん成せいした。

Almost all of the participants agreed.

2

usually written using kana alone

Used for approximate numbers, amounts, or times. Similar to 約 (やく) but slightly more casual.

ほぼ〈数すう〉パーセントnearly ...percent
この作さ業ぎょうはほぼ100パーセント終おわった。
This task is almost 100 percent done.
ほぼ同おなじ〈物もの〉almost the same (thing)
二ふたつの製せい品ひんはほぼ同おなじ性せい能のうを持もっている。
The two products have almost the same performance.
ほぼ完かん成せいするto be nearly complete
新あたらしい橋はしはほぼ完かん成せいした。
The new bridge is almost complete.
ほぼ毎まい日にちalmost every day
彼かれはほぼ毎まい日にちジョギングをしている。
He jogs almost every day.
ほぼ全すべてalmost all; nearly everything
会かい議ぎにはほぼ全すべてのメンバーが出しゅっ席せきした。
Almost all the members attended the meeting.

約やくN3sense 2
約 is a more formal, often written word for approximate numbers, while ほぼ feels more casual and conversational.
ほとんどN4sense 1
ほとんど can also mean 'hardly any' in negative sentences, whereas ほぼ is used only in affirmative, near-complete contexts.
大だい体たいN5sense 2
大体 is a broader, everyday word for 'roughly' or 'in general', while ほぼ focuses more narrowly on closeness to a specific amount or state.
おおむねN1
ほぼ emphasizes closeness to a specific figure or state ('almost exactly'), whereas 概ね describes the overall tendency of a broader situation.
およそN3
ほぼ stresses that something is very close to an exact amount or state, while およそ signals a looser, rougher estimate.

ほぼUsage100%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
略ほぼUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.
粗ほぼUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.

Derived from the kanji 略 (abbreviation, roughly), but now almost exclusively written in kana. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.