ほとんど

ほとんど
adverb
almost, mostly
1. almost, nearly
Very close to completely. Used to indicate that something is almost at a certain state or level.
ほとんど終(お)わった。
It's almost done.
仕事(しごと)はほとんど終(お)わりました。
The work is almost finished.
ほとんど食(た)べられませんでした。
I could hardly eat anything.
With negative = hardly any
宿題(しゅくだい)はほとんどできています。後(あと)少(すこ)しです。
The homework is almost done. Just a little more.
朝(あさ)から何(なに)も食(た)べていないので、ほとんど歩(ある)けませんでした。とても疲(つか)れました。
I hadn't eaten anything since morning, so I could barely walk. I was very tired.
2. mostly, for the most part
The greater part of something. Nearly all.
ほとんどの人(ひと)が来(き)ました。
Most people came.
ほとんどの + noun = most of the ~
ほとんど毎日(まいにち)走(はし)っています。
I run almost every day.
ほとんどの店(みせ)は9時(じ)に開(あ)きます。
Most stores open at 9 o'clock.
友達(ともだち)のほとんどは日本(にほん)に住(す)んでいます。
Most of my friends live in Japan.
このクラスの学生(がくせい)はほとんど日本語(にほんご)が上手(じょうず)です。毎日(まいにち)勉強(べんきょう)しているからです。
Most students in this class are good at Japanese. It's because they study every day.

ほとんど is an adverb meaning 'almost' or 'most,' with different nuances in positive and negative contexts.

KANJI:
Can be written as 殆(ほとん)ど but hiragana is more common.

USAGE:

  • With positive: 'almost, mostly' (ほとんど終(お)わった: almost finished)
  • With negative: 'hardly, barely' (ほとんど食(た)べられない: can hardly eat)

PATTERNS:

  • ほとんどの + noun: most of the ~ (ほとんどの人(ひと): most people)
  • ほとんど + verb: almost completely

SIMILAR:

  • だいたい: roughly, approximately
  • たいてい: usually, mostly
core
Added 2026.1.7 21:19 · Revised 2026.2.19 10:55
00500/00847_hotondo