Hotondo ほとんど

Adverb meaning: almost, hardly, scarcely, little, few

1. In affirmative sentence
仕事はほとんど終わりました。
Shigoto wa hotondo owarimashita.
The work is almost finished.

2. In negative sentence
今週はほとんど日本語を勉強しませんでした。
Konshuu wa hotondo nihongo o benkyou shimasen deshita.
I have hardly studied Japanese this week.
ほとんど誰もそれを買いません。
Hotondo dare mo sore o kaimasen.
Hardly anybody buys it.

-> See also: metta ni, amari