How to say "nearly" in Japanese

• ほとんどJLPT N4approx.Common
  adverbThe usual word for 'nearly' or 'almost' about quantity or degree: nearly all, almost finished. It states that something falls just short of being complete or total.
  夕食ゆうしょくの準備じゅんびはほとんどできています。↗

  The dinner is almost ready.
• ほぼJLPT N3approx.Common
  adverbAlso 'almost; for the most part': presents something as very nearly the case. Close in meaning to ほとんど, and often interchangeable with it.
  「ほぼ４ポンドだよ」とボブが言ゆう。↗

  "Nearly four pounds," says Bob.
• だいたいJLPT N4approx.Common
  adverbReally the word for 'generally', 'on the whole' or 'roughly'; its 'almost' sense is secondary. For 'nearly' in the sense of 'almost' it is seldom the word you want — ほとんど fits better.
  仕事しごとはだいたい終おわった。↗

  The work is mostly done.
• 近くちかくJLPT N5approx.Common
  noun (suffix)Used with amounts to mean 'just short of' them, as in 'it took nearly one year'. It also means 'close to' of place or position.
  ７時じ近ちかくだ。学校がっこうへ行いかなくては。↗

  It is close to seven o'clock. We have to go to school.
• やがてJLPT N3approx.Common
  adverbChiefly means 'before long, in time, eventually'; its 'nearly' sense is marginal. For 'nearly' this is seldom the word you want — use ほとんど or ほぼ instead.

For 'nearly' meaning 'almost', 「ほとんど」 is the usual choice, with 「ほぼ」 close to it in meaning; 「近く」 is for amounts ('nearly one year'), while 「だいたい」 and 「やがて」 are really 'generally' and 'before long', only marginally 'nearly'.

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

• ほとんどalmost
• ほぼalmost
• だいたいgenerally
• すんでにalmost
• あわやnearly
• 危なくあぶなくnearly
• あらかたmostly
• もう少しでもうすこしでalmost
• もう少しのところでもうすこしのところでalmost
• もうじきsoon
• そうになったalmost (did)
• ほぼほぼalmost
• 九分通りくぶどおり(about) ninety percent (finished, complete, etc.)
• もうすぐsoon
• 近くちかくnearly (e.g. "it took nearly one year")
• やがてalmost
• 危うくあやうくalmost
• あれこれaround
• 大半たいはんmostly
• 大方おおかたmostly
• あらましroughly
• 半ばなかばmostly
• 近いちかいsimilar