概して|がいしてgaishite[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. adverbgenerally; as a rule
   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.

• Synonym大方おおかたNeutralMeans 'the greater part, mostly', and also 'people in general'; 「概して」 leans written and is used to sum up with an evaluation.
• Synonym一般にいっぱんにNeutralMeans 'generally, widely the case', as in 「一般に言われる」; 「概して」 centers on overall evaluation.
• SynonymたいていNeutralMeans 'mostly, usually', and also 'probably'; common in speech, whereas 「概して」 leans written.
• Synonym総じてそうじてWrittenWritten/formal prose; means 'on the whole' and is almost interchangeable with 「概して」.
• SynonymおしなべてWrittenWritten/formal prose; means 'uniformly, across the board', stressing that everything is so, while 「概して」 gives a broad tendency.
• Synonym一体にいったいにWrittenWritten/formal prose and now little used; 'taken as a whole, roughly so' — close in sense to 「概して」.
• Synonym全体にぜんたいにNeutralInterchangeable with 「概して」 for 'on the whole'; cannot replace it when the sense is 'across the entire range'.
• Synonym全般的にぜんぱんてきにNeutralMeans 'generally, in every respect'; 「概して」 focuses on the overall tendency.
• Related一通りひととおりNeutralMeans going over something roughly or briefly, a quick once-over; it does not express a general tendency.
• RelatedざっとCasualColloquial; 'roughly, approximately', as in 「ざっと見る」; no sense of overall tendency.
• Related多くおおくNeutralMeans 'mostly, in most cases'; 「概して」 is used for overall evaluation.
• Related原則としてげんそくとしてWrittenWritten/formal prose; 'as a rule, in principle', implying there can be exceptions; 「概して」 only states a general tendency.
• RelatedあらかたNeutralMeans 'mostly, just about', as in 「粗方終わった」; 「概して」 gives an overall assessment.
• Antonym特にとくにNeutralAntonym: 'especially, in particular' — the opposite of the sweeping generality of 「概して」.
• Antonym例外としてWrittenAntonym: 'as an exception', set against the general case that 「概して」 describes.

For a written, evaluative 'on the whole', choose 「概して」 or 「総じて」. In everyday speech 「全体に」 is the natural pick, and 「大抵」 when you mean 'mostly'. To stress 'especially', use 「特に」.

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

1. おおむね。大体だいたい。