JLPT N4・N5 Vocabulary – Difference between “だいたい” and “たいてい”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “だいたい” and “たいてい”
2. だいたい
3. たいてい
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment
Q: What is the difference between “だいたい” and “たいてい”?
A: Both have the meaning of “approximately,” but their usage depends on the words that follow.
だいたい (JLPT N4)
When omitting fine details, focusing on the key points is the intended use. It is also used to indicate approximate ranges of quantities or time. The grammatical forms include “noun” and “adverb.” Similar words include “approximately” and “roughly.” When used with nouns, it is often accompanied by “の.”
[Examples]
その話はだいたいわかりました。
I roughly understood the story.
⇒ This implies that while some finer points remain unclear, the general idea has been understood.
東京から大阪まで新幹線でだいたい1万5千円ぐらいかかります。
It costs about 15,000 yen to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka.
⇒ This indicates an approximate cost, leaving out exact details.
だいたいの人が会議に出席しました。
Most of the people attended the meeting.
⇒ This indicates that the number of attendees corresponds approximately to the overall total.
Additionally, “だいたい” can also mean “originally” or “in the first place.”
In this usage, it conveys a negative nuance and is employed to point out the cause of an undesirable result.
[Examples]
だいたいあなたが何もしないから、全部わたしがしないといけないんだけど。
It’s basically because you don’t do anything, so I have to do everything.
⇒ This emphasizes that the reason the speaker has to do everything lies with “you.”
たいてい (JLPT N5)
It refers to a large portion or almost all of a whole. Rather than indicating quantities or time ranges, it is used to express frequency, habits, or general tendencies with a high degree of regularity or certainty.
The grammatical classifications are “noun” and “adverb.” As a noun, it conveys meanings like “most of” or “almost all,” and as an adverb, it means “generally,” “normally,” or “usually.” When used with a noun, it is accompanied by “の.”
[Examples]
たいてい家の近くのスーパーで買い物します。
I usually do my shopping at a supermarket near my house.
⇒ This indicates that the speaker generally shops at a supermarket near their home.
たいていの人がダムの建設に反対しました。
Most people opposed the construction of the dam.
⇒ Many people were against the construction of the dam.
父はたいてい8時半ごろ家を出ます。
My father usually leaves the house around 8:30.
⇒ This describes the habitual behavior of the speaker’s father.
Let’s Compare
Let’s examine the differences using commonly heard phrases as examples:
[Examples]
日曜日はだいたい家にいます。
I am at home most Sundays.
日曜日はたいてい家にいます。
I am usually at home on Sundays.
Using “だいたい” implies that while there are Sundays when you are not at home, you are at home on most Sundays.
On the other hand, “たいてい” conveys that you are habitually at home (as a routine) or are at home on nearly all Sundays (high frequency).
Summary
[だいたい]
- It is used to indicate an approximate range of quantity or time, excluding fine details.
[たいてい]
- It points to a large portion or nearly the entirety of something within a whole, expressing frequency, habits, or general tendencies.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. だいたい
日本からニューヨークまでだいたい14時間ぐらいかかります。
It takes about 14 hours from Japan to New York.
*Since this refers to the approximate duration of time, “だいたい” is the correct choice.
A. たいてい
たいていの日本人は仕事をしすぎています。
Most Japanese people tend to overwork.
*This refers to a general tendency among Japanese people, so “たいてい” is appropriate.
A. だいたい
だいたい君が面倒なことを言わなければよかったんだよ。
It’s basically your fault for saying something troublesome.
*Since this brings the discussion back to blame the other person, “だいたい” is the correct choice.
A. たいてい
娘はたいてい6時ごろに起きて学校へ行きます。
My daughter usually wakes up around 6 a.m. and goes to school.
*Since this refers to the daughter’s routine, “たいてい” is the appropriate choice.
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