Meaning and Usage
"補足" (ほそく) means "supplement" or "complement," often used to indicate additional information or explanation added to clarify or complete something. It is a formal noun commonly used in business, academic, or official contexts.
Common Contexts
You will often see "補足" used when someone wants to add extra details to a report, explanation, or presentation to make it clearer or more complete. It can refer to both verbal and written additions.
Collocations and Patterns
- 補足説明 (ほそくせつめい): supplementary explanation, used when clarifying or expanding on a previous explanation.
- 補足資料 (ほそくしりょう): supplementary materials, often documents or data added to support main content.
- 補足する: to supplement or add something.
Register and Nuance
"補足" is polite and formal, suitable for professional or academic settings. It is not typically used in casual conversation.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "補足" with "追加" (ついか), which also means "addition." However, "補足" implies adding something to complete or clarify, while "追加" is a more general term for adding more items or content without the nuance of completion.