「大概」對「大約」
calkins
April 29, 2011, 10:47 AM posted in General Discussion有人可不可以解釋「大概」跟「大約」這兩個字有什麼不同？我覺得這兩個字都差不多一樣，但是我在台灣沒聽過人說「大約」。也許只在中國大陸用這個字？也許「大約」比較正式？我在故事中看到了。
謝謝你們的幫忙！
ryanchild
April 29, 2011, 11:40 PM我也沒聽過台灣人說「大約」，只有在chinesepod聽過。可能是比較正式的詞吧?
你用什麼打簡體字啊？我都用Yahoo KeyKey輸入字，是yahoo台灣分部編的。可以用bopomofo直接輸入繁體字，簡體字，還有很多符號。還沒找到更好的輸入法。
calkins
我總是去這個網站，然後把繁體字複製貼上:
http://www.chinese-tools.com/tools/converter-tradsimp.html
也可以把簡體字變成繁體字了：
http://www.chinese-tools.com/tools/converter-simptrad.html
我用拼音輸入法 (IMKQIM) ，所以不知道在哪裡可以找到bopomofo的。
calkins
May 02, 2011, 01:25 PMOkay, so I talked to a Taiwanese friend who gave me a little more insight on 大約.
Apparently, 大約 is only used when specifying number approximations (i.e. age, money, time, temperature, height, distance, etc.). For instance:
我每天大約七點半起床。
Every day I wake up around 7:30.
But I have also seen 大概 used with time in this way.
Could anyone shed some more light on the differences/similarities between these two words? Thanks.
tingyun
I do think 大约 feels a little older in use. As for sharper distinctions, checking a modern dictionary usually provides some insight. Under 大约 there is the following note: "跟"大概"不同，没有名词、形容词用法。"
Here's the full entries if you want to compare - consistent with the bit above, 大概 has the additional noun and adjective roles. And in case the note to 'reference 大抵's entry' causes curiosity, here's a link, just open the Chinese dictionary tab. http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/detail/%E5%A4%A7%E6%8A%B5/7027 . Of course then you might also check 大体...;)
BTW, your friend's perception that 大约 is mostly used for numbers is also note in the entry (though 大概 of course also has that role). Also, the additional entry in the adverb role for 大约 on making estimates about the situation may cause you to think that's an additional role, but the examples under 大概 make clear it also has that role (maybe the dictionary writers just felt bad only giving 大约 the one entry, so they wrote 2 overlapping ones)
大概 [dàgài]
1. 1. 名 大体情况；大致内容
事情的大概我已经知道了
2. 2. 形 不很准确或不很详尽
这只是一个大概的数字
3. 3. 副 表示不很精确的估计
这箱梨大概有三十多斤
他大概不会来了
4. 4. 参见"大抵"的提示。
大约 [dàyuē]
1. 1. 副 表示不很精确的估计(多指数量或时间)
这儿离海滨浴场大约二百米
比赛大约安排在下月中旬
2. 2. 副 表示对情况的推测
他动身两三天了，大约已经到了吧？
3. 3. 跟"大概"不同，没有名词、形容词用法。
calkins
April 29, 2011, 11:04 AM对不起，简体字的：
有人可不可以解释「大概」跟「大约」这两个字有什麽不同？我觉得这两个字都差不多一样，但是我在台湾没听过人说「大约」。也许只在中国大陆用这个字？也许「大约」比较正式？我在故事中看到了。
谢谢你们的帮忙！