几乎 (jī hū) is an adverb meaning 'almost' or 'nearly'. Though it contains the character 几 (jī), which can mean 'how many' or 'a few', and 乎 (hū), a classical particle often used in literary or formal expressions, together they form a fixed compound with no literal connection to either character’s individual meanings. It emphasizes that something is very close to happening or being true—but not quite—often implying a small gap between expectation and reality.

This word frequently modifies verbs, adjectives, or whole clauses and appears before them (e.g., 几乎完成, 几乎一样). It's neutral in register—common in both spoken and written Chinese—and often conveys surprise, relief, or emphasis depending on context. It’s not used for exact measurements or precise quantification; instead, it signals approximation in degree, time, quantity, or state.