この組織のメンバーは、ほとんどが元軍人だ。
Almost all of the members of this organization are ex-military.
Think of it like the word “almost” or “most” in English. It’s for when somethin’ is near completion, or when you’re talkin’ about a large majority of somethin’. It’s used to say that something is practically all of something else, but not quite everything.
This one’s a breeze, man. ほとんど is an adverb, so it just hooks up with other words without a lot of drama. You can use it in a few different ways. Here’s the lowdown:
| Conjugation | Example | English Translation |
| ほとんど + Verb | ほとんど終わった | I’m almost finished. |
| ほとんどの + Noun | ほとんどのヤツ | Most of the guys |
| ほとんど + Negative Verb | ほとんどない | There’s almost none. |
See? It’s easy. When you use ほとんど with a noun, you gotta slap that の right in the middle to make it an adjective, like you’re taggin’ it to your crew. When you’re just talkin’ about an action or a state, you just drop it in front of the verb. It can be used in both positive and negative sentences, which gives you more ways to talk about your business. You can say you got ほとんど of the work done, or that there’s ほとんど no police presence. It works both ways.
It’s like when you’re sittin’ on a mountain of cash after a heist. You got ほとんど of the dough, but maybe a few bills slipped through the cracks. Or when you’re talkin’ about your crew. ほとんど of your guys are loyal, but you always gotta watch out for that one snake. It’s a word for being close to the full amount, but not quite there yet. The numbers are high, but they ain’t at a hundred.
Alright, let’s get you fluent in the language of the streets. Here are some new words to add to your arsenal.
取引 (とりひき)
English: Deal; transaction.
Yo, listen up. When you got a deal goin’ down, a 取引, that’s when you’re makin’ moves, you feel me? It ain’t just about money, nah. It’s about gettin’ what you want and givin’ up somethin’ for it. Like, you handin’ over the goods, and they handin’ you the paper. Or maybe you trade information for a favor. It’s the handshake that seals the trust, the pact you make on the streets. You better hope they don’t double-cross you, ’cause that’s when things get real messy.
死んでいる (しんでいる)
English: Dead; deceased.
Man, when they say 死んでいる, it’s over, straight up. That’s the final word, the end of the line. It ain’t just about a body not breathin’. It’s about a man’s reputation, his legacy, bein’ wiped out. Like, if you fail the crew, if you betray the code, you’re dead to us. It’s a statement, a warning. You step out of line, you’re 死んでいる to the whole game. No comin’ back from that.
口を聞く (くちをきく)
English: To speak; to talk.
Yo, when you 口を聞く, you’re openin’ your mouth and spillin’ the beans. It’s more than just talkin’, it’s about what you sayin’ and who you sayin’ it to. You gotta know when to be quiet and when to let ’em have it. In this life, your words got weight. They can get you into trouble or get you out of it. You gotta be careful who you’re talkin’ to, ’cause snitches get stitches. Sometimes, the less you 口を聞く, the longer you live. Know what I’m sayin’?
犯罪者 (はんざいしゃ)
English: Criminal; offender.
A 犯罪者? That’s what they call us, man. The law, the squares, the cats on the outside lookin’ in. It ain’t just about breakin’ the rules, nah. It’s about livin’ outside their world, survivin’ on your own terms. We’re the ones who make our own hustle, who take what’s ours without askin’ for permission. They label us a 犯罪者, but we just livin’ the life they too scared to live.
アジト (Ajito)
English: Hideout; secret base.
Man, your アジト? That’s your crib, your sanctuary. It’s where the crew chills, where you stash the goods, and where you lay low when things get hot. It’s a spot nobody knows about, off the grid. It’s the place you go to cook up a plan or count the paper. It ain’t no regular spot, nah. It’s the fortress, the home base for the whole operation. You don’t bring no strangers to the アジト. That’s a rule you don’t ever break.
Check out these sentences. They’re straight from the playbook, so you know they’re legit.
この取引は、ほとんど完了している。
This deal is almost complete.
組織のメンバーは、ほとんど若い。
Most of the organization’s members are young.
彼は、ほとんど口を聞かない男だ。
He’s a man who hardly ever speaks.
ほとんどの時間は、アジトにいる。
I spend most of my time at the hideout.
彼は、ほとんど死んでいた。
He was practically dead.
この部屋には、ほとんど物がない。
There is almost nothing in this room.
ほとんどの取引は、夜に行われる。
Most deals happen at night.
あの街の犯罪者は、ほとんど捕まらない。
Criminals in that city are rarely caught.
ほとんどの奴は、金のために裏切る。
Most guys will betray you for money.
警官は、ほとんど俺たちを捕まえかけた。
The cops almost caught us.
That’s the lowdown, fam. Now get out there and use this knowledge right. Don’t be a scrub. Peace out.
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