1.
about, approximately, roughly
An estimate that is not exact; used when giving approximate numbers or amounts.
大凡三十分で着きます。
It takes approximately 30 minutes to arrive.
大凡の見積もりを出してください。
Please give me a rough estimate.
大凡百人が集まった。
About a hundred people gathered.
費用は大凡五万円ぐらいだと思います。
I think the cost will be roughly 50,000 yen.
工事は大凡三か月で終わる予定だ。
The construction is expected to finish in roughly three months.
2.
generally, on the whole
In general terms; for the most part.
大凡の計画は決まった。
The general plan has been decided.
大凡の内容は分かった。
I understood the general content.
話を聞いて大凡の事情がつかめた。
After listening, I grasped the general situation.
大凡想像がつくと思いますが、結果はよくありませんでした。
As you can probably imagine, the results were not good.
地図を見れば大凡の場所は分かるだろう。
If you look at the map, you'll probably figure out the general location.
USAGE: 大凡 is often written in hiragana (おおよそ) in modern usage.
POSITION: Usually appears before numbers or nouns.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 大凡の見当 (rough idea)
- 大凡の数 (approximate number)
- 大凡想像がつく (can roughly imagine)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 約〜 - about, approximately (more common for numbers)
- だいたい - roughly, generally (more casual)
- およそ - approximately (similar but can also mean 'at all' in negative contexts)
- ざっと - roughly, at a glance