おおよそ
JLPT Level: N2
Meanings
Approximately
Roughly
About
Outline
Gist
Usage
おおよそ + Noun/Counter
おおよそ + sentence
おおよそとして / おおよそは + 概要として(意味の)
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.
このプロジェクトの予算はおおよそ1000万円です。
このプロジェクトのよさんはおおよそせんまんえんです。
The budget for this project is roughly 10 million yen.
おおよそ3日ほどかかるでしょう。
おおよそみっかほどかかるでしょう。
It will probably take about three days.
彼の説明はおおよそこんな感じだった。
かれのせつめいはおおよそこんなかんじだった。
His explanation was roughly like this.