1.
generally; on the whole; as a rule
Used to make broad generalizations about a group or situation. Indicates that something is true in most cases, though exceptions may exist. More formal than たいてい and often used in written language or formal speech.
概して好評だった。
It was generally well received.
概して日本人は時間に正確だ。
Japanese people are generally punctual.
今年の試験結果は概して良好であったと言える。
It can be said that this year's exam results were generally favorable.
USAGE:
概して is a formal adverb meaning "generally" or "on the whole." It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or before the predicate it modifies. It is more common in written language, news, and formal presentations than in casual conversation.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 概して + adjective/na-adjective + だ (generally [adjective])
- 概して + noun + は (generally, [noun] ...)
- 概して言えば (generally speaking)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 概して: generally (formal, often written)
- たいてい: usually, mostly (neutral, everyday)
- 総じて: overall, in general (formal, similar register to 概して)
- 大体: roughly, more or less (casual, approximate)