ほぼ・略・粗hobo[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. adverbalmost; nearly; for the most part
   「ほぼ４ポンドだよ」とボブが言ゆう。↗

   "Nearly four pounds," says Bob.
2. adverbroughly; approximately; about; around
   アジアはヨーロッパのほぼ４倍ばいの大おおきさである。↗

   Asia is roughly four times the size of Europe.

• SynonymほとんどNeutralCovers 'almost/mostly' and works as a noun, as in 「ほとんどの人」; with a negative it means 'hardly'. 「ほぼ」 mainly modifies degree or quantity close to complete.
• SynonymおよそNeutralMeans 'about, roughly', mostly before numbers, as in 「およそ百人」; before a negative it means 'not at all', a usage found mainly in written prose.
• Synonym大方おおかたNeutralMeans 'mostly, for the most part', as in 「大方片付いた」; also a noun for the general public, as in 「大方の予想」.
• Synonym約やくNeutralAttaches to numbers for approximations, as in 「約3時間」「約半数」; 「ほぼ」 can also describe states and degrees, not just quantities.
• Synonym大概たいがいNeutralCovers 'most, usually', as in 「大概の人」; it can also mean 'generally' or express conjecture.
• SynonymだいたいNeutralCommon in speech for 'roughly, on the whole', as in 「大体分かった」; 「ほぼ」 sits closer to 'completely'.
• SynonymおおむねWrittenMeans 'on the whole, largely', as in 「概ね良好」; typical of evaluations and reports, and leans toward written/formal prose.
• SynonymあらかたNeutralMeans 'mostly, just about', as in 「仕事はあらかた終わった」; used chiefly for how far a task or matter has progressed.
• Synonym無慮むりょWrittenBelongs to written/formal prose; placed before numbers, as in 「無慮数万」, it stresses how large the number is and is rare today.
• Synonym九分通りくぶどおりNeutralSays something is about ninety percent done or all but certain, as in 「九分通り完成」; more concrete than 「ほぼ」.
• RelatedたいていNeutralMeans 'usually, most of the time', focusing on frequency or what happens in most cases, as in 「休日は大抵家にいる」.
• Related概してがいしてWrittenA written/formal prose word meaning 'on the whole, generally', as in 「概して好評だ」; used to sum up an overall assessment.
• RelatedざっとCasualColloquial for doing something roughly or making a quick estimate, as in 「ざっと見積もる」「ざっと目を通す」.
• Related多くおおくNeutralMeans 'many, in most cases', as in 「多くの場合」, with the focus on large numbers; it does not suggest near completion.
• RelatedおおよそNeutralMeans 'about, roughly', mostly with quantities, as in 「おおよその見当」; synonymous with 「凡そ」.
• Related粗々あらあらWrittenMeans 'roughly, in broad outline', as in 「あらあら説明する」, stressing a rough manner of doing things; it belongs to written/formal prose and is uncommon.
• Related総じてそうじてWrittenA written/formal prose word for 'all in all, taken as a whole', as in 「総じて順調だ」; it sums up the overall picture.

Use 「ほぼ」 for 'almost all' or 'nearly identical', as in 「ほぼ同じ」「ほぼ全員」. In everyday speech 「大体」 and 「ほとんど」 are the natural picks. For rough numbers choose 「約」 or 「およそ」; for 'usually, most of the time' use 「大抵」; for overall assessments 「概ね」 and 「概して」 fit best. 「あらかた」 and 「九分通り」 track progress, 「ざっと」 a quick rough pass, while 「無慮」「粗々」「総じて」 belong to written/formal prose.

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

1. 全部ぜんぶまたは完全かんぜんに近ちかい状態じょうたいであるさま
2. 数量すうりょうや程度ていどがだいたいそのくらいであるさま