How to say "generally" in Japanese

• だいたいJLPT N4approx.Common
  adverbCovers 'generally' in the sense of 'on the whole' or 'mostly': it presents a statement as an approximation, true for the most part though not necessarily in every detail.
  仕事しごとはだいたい終おわった。↗

  The work is mostly done.
• 一通りひととおりJLPT N2approx.Common
  no-adjective, adverbNot 'generally' as a claim about facts, but 'in a general, rough way': it describes covering the whole of something briefly — looking it over or explaining it roughly, without depth.
• 大概たいがいJLPT N1approx.Common
  adverbCovers 'generally' as 'usually' or 'normally': it states what is the case in most instances or most of the time. It largely overlaps with だいたい.
  彼かれは夜よるにはたいがい家いえにいる。↗

  He is generally at home in the evening.
• 概してがいしてCommon
  adverbCovers 'generally' as 'as a rule': it sums up a general tendency or states what holds true on the whole, with a somewhat formal, written tone.
  概がいして私は中華ちゅうか料理りょうりが好すきだ。↗

  I like Chinese food in general.
• 一般にいっぱんにCommon
  adverbCovers 'generally' as 'in general': it introduces a statement that is widely or commonly true or accepted, presenting it as a broad truth rather than a personal observation.
  この単語たんごは、一般いっぱんによく使つかわれていない。↗

  This word is not in common use.

Use 「だいたい」 for rough approximation ('mostly'), 「一通り」 for covering something briefly and roughly, 大概 for what usually happens, 「概して」 to state a rule, and 「一般に」 for widely accepted general truths.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• だいたいgenerally
• 一通りひととおりgenerally
• 大概たいがいgenerally
• 概してがいしてgenerally
• 一般にいっぱんにgenerally
• たいていmostly
• おおむねin general
• 粗々あらあらroughly
• 総じてそうじてin general
• 全体にぜんたいにgenerally
• 全般的にぜんぱんてきにgenerally
• 一渡りひとわたりgenerally
• 総別そうべつgenerally
• 一体にいったいにgenerally
• なべてin general
• 全般にぜんぱんにin general
• あまねくwidely
• 普通にふつうにnormally
• およそgenerally
• 普段ふだんusually
• 総体そうたいon the whole
• 普通ふつうnormally
• 通じてつうじてgenerally
• 通例つうれいusually
• おおよそgenerally
• 大略たいりゃくroughly
• 一体いったいgenerally