1.
generally, usually, mostly, for the most part
Indicates that something is true in most cases or that one does something as a general habit. Similar to だいたい but slightly more colloquial.
休みの日は大概家にいる。
On my days off, I'm usually at home.
この店のメニューは大概食べたことがある。
I've tried most of the items on this restaurant's menu.
朝は大概コーヒーを飲んでから仕事を始める。
In the morning, I usually drink coffee before starting work.
2.
moderation, reasonable limit; enough already
Expresses that something has reached a reasonable limit or that one should show restraint. Often used in the phrase 大概にしろ to tell someone to stop going too far.
いい加減、大概にしろ。
That's enough already, cut it out.
冗談も大概にしてくれ。
Enough with the jokes already.
文句ばかり言うのも大概にしてほしい。
I wish you'd stop complaining so much.
大概 has two main uses: as an adverb meaning "generally" and in the expression 大概にする meaning "to show moderation."
SENSE 1 — GENERALLY:
Used like だいたい to describe habitual actions or general truths.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- だいたい: the most common and neutral ("roughly, generally")
- 大概: slightly more colloquial, often used for habits
- 大抵: similar to 大概, used for habitual actions
SENSE 2 — MODERATION:
The key expression is 大概にする/しろ, meaning "to keep things within limits" or as a command, "that's enough."
- 大概にしろ: stop it, that's enough (blunt)
- 大概にしてくれ: please cut it out
- 大概にしてほしい: I want you to stop