おおよそ
Meanings
- Approximately
- Roughly
- About
- Outline
- Gist
About this pattern
Explanation
おおよそ is used when you want to give a rough estimate or general sense rather than an exact figure. It signals that the information is approximate and may be rounded or simplified. It can also mean ‘in broad terms’ or ‘roughly speaking’ when summarizing a situation or plan. Unlike exact numbers or precise descriptions, おおよそ emphasizes that small differences are ignored for the sake of general understanding. Typical contexts include business estimates, planning, measurements, or when giving a general overview. It can precede a number, a quantity, or a description, and can appear at the start of a sentence to frame what follows.
Learn in context
Example sentences
The budget for this project is roughly 10 million yen.
It will probably take about three days.
His explanation was roughly like this.
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