HSK 6 · VERSION 2.0#25

Expressing “Roughly” with “dàgài”

大概

dàgài

How it works

大概 (dàgài) means “roughly,” “approximately,” or “probably,” depending on context. It can be used for:

approximate number or amount

rough time estimate

uncertain judgment or guess

So it has both a quantitative use and a modal use.

从这里到机场，如果路上不堵车的话，大概需要四十分钟。

Cóng zhèlǐ dào jīchǎng, rúguǒ lùshang bù dǔchē dehuà, dàgài xūyào sìshí fēnzhōng.

From here to the airport, if there is no traffic jam, it will probably take about forty minutes.

这件事的具体经过我记不太清了，只能说个大概。

Zhè jiàn shì de jùtǐ jīngguò wǒ jì bù tài qīng le, zhǐ néng shuō ge dàgài.

I do not remember exactly what happened; I can only give a rough account.

他看了看表，大概意识到自己已经迟到了，却还是显得异常平静。

Tā kàn le kàn biǎo, dàgài yìshí dào zìjǐ yǐjīng chídào le, què háishi xiǎnde yìcháng píngjìng.

He glanced at his watch and probably realized that he was already late, yet he still seemed unusually calm.

大概 (dàgài) can refer either to approximation in number / time or to uncertainty in judgment. The meaning depends on context.