全

quán: 全 - All, Whole, Entire, Complete

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 全, quán, what does quan mean, Chinese for all, Chinese for whole, complete in Chinese, entire, full, Chinese grammar 全, 全家, 全国, 全部, 安全, Chinese character for all.
  • Summary: 全 (quán) is a fundamental and highly versatile Chinese character meaning 'all', 'whole', or 'complete'. For any beginner, mastering 全 is essential as it's a key building block for expressing totality. It's used to describe everything from a whole family (全家) or the entire country (全国) to concepts like safety (安全). Understanding how 全 functions as a prefix and how it pairs with the adverb 都 (dōu) will significantly improve your fluency and comprehension of Chinese.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): quán
  • Part of Speech: Adjective, Adverb, Prefix
  • HSK Level: HSK 2
  • Concise Definition: Encompassing the entirety of a group or object; all, whole, complete.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 全 (quán) as a way to “wrap up” a noun to indicate you're talking about the whole thing. If you're talking about your family, 全家 (quánjiā) means your “whole family.” If you're talking about a country, 全国 (quánguó) means the “entire country.” It's the most common way to express the idea of “the whole…” and is often followed by the adverb 都 (dōu) to emphasize that everyone or everything in that group is included in the action.

Character Breakdown

  • 全 (quán): The character is a combination of 人 (rén) on top and 王 (wáng) on the bottom. While 王 means “king,” its ancient form was identical to 玉 (yù), meaning “jade.” An early form of the character depicted a lid over a piece of jade, symbolizing that the jade was kept safe, whole, and complete. Therefore, the character conveys the idea of completeness and integrity.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The concept of 'wholeness' or 'completeness' (完整 - wánzhěng) that 全 embodies is subtly important in Chinese culture, which often emphasizes unity and collectivism. The ideal of a 全家 (quánjiā) or “whole family” being together, especially during holidays like Chinese New Year, is a cornerstone of cultural life. This contrasts with more individualistic Western perspectives where family units might be more fragmented.
  • While the Western concept of “all” can be abstract (“all is lost”), 全 is typically more concrete. It defines the boundaries of a specific, countable group or entity—the whole team, the whole company, the whole day. It's less about a philosophical “everything” and more about the practical “all of this specific thing.” This reflects a pragmatic approach to defining groups and scopes.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • As a Prefix: This is the most common use of 全. It attaches directly to a noun to mean “the whole/entire [noun].”
    • 全家 (quánjiā) - whole family
    • 全国 (quánguó) - whole country
    • 全身 (quánshēn) - whole body
    • 全球 (quánqiú) - the whole world, global
    • 全天 (quántiān) - the whole day, all day
  • The “全…都…” Grammar Pattern: This is a crucial structure for beginners. 全 defines the “whole group,” and 都 (dōu) confirms that “all” of them perform the action.
    • 我们全班都通过了考试。 (Wǒmen quán bān dōu tōngguòle kǎoshì.) - Our whole class all passed the exam.
  • As a Stand-alone Adverb: Sometimes, 全 can mean “completely” or “entirely” on its own, especially with certain verbs.
    • 我全忘了。 (Wǒ quán wàng le.) - I completely forgot.
  • In Common Compounds: 全 is a component of many essential words.
    • 安全 (ānquán) - safe; safety (lit. “peaceful and whole”)
    • 完全 (wánquán) - completely; entirely
    • 全部 (quánbù) - all; the entire part/section

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 春节的时候，我们全家会一起吃年夜饭。
    • Pinyin: Chūnjié de shíhòu, wǒmen quánjiā huì yīqǐ chī niányèfàn.
    • English: During the Spring Festival, our whole family will eat New Year's Eve dinner together.
    • Analysis: Here, 全 acts as a prefix to 家 (jiā), creating the concept of “the whole family.” This is a very common and culturally significant usage.
  • Example 2:
    • 这家商店的衣服全部打五折。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā shāngdiàn de yīfú quánbù dǎ wǔ zhé.
    • English: All the clothes in this store are 50% off.
    • Analysis: 全部 (quánbù) is used here to mean “all of them,” referring to the clothes. It functions as an adverb modifying the verb phrase “打五折” (are 50% off).
  • Example 3:
    • 跑完马拉松后，我全身都疼。
    • Pinyin: Pǎo wán mǎlāsōng hòu, wǒ quánshēn dōu téng.
    • English: After finishing the marathon, my whole body aches.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the classic “全 + Noun + 都 + Verb” pattern. 全身 defines the scope (“whole body”), and 都 confirms that all of it is aching.
  • Example 4:
    • 我完全同意你的计划。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ wánquán tóngyì nǐ de jìhuà.
    • English: I completely agree with your plan.
    • Analysis: 完全 (wánquán) is a common adverb meaning “completely” or “totally.” It emphasizes the degree of agreement.
  • Example 5:
    • 为了客人的安全，请不要在室内吸烟。
    • Pinyin: Wèile kèrén de ānquán, qǐng bùyào zài shìnèi xīyān.
    • English: For the safety of our guests, please do not smoke indoors.
    • Analysis: 安全 (ānquán) is a critical vocabulary word for safety. It literally means “peaceful and whole,” a state free from danger.
  • Example 6:
    • 这次会议需要全体员工参加。
    • Pinyin: Zhè cì huìyì xūyào quántǐ yuángōng cānjiā.
    • English: This meeting requires all staff members to attend.
    • Analysis: 全体 (quántǐ) is a more formal way to say “all members” of a group or organization.
  • Example 7:
    • 他把这个问题的全过程都解释清楚了。
    • Pinyin: Tā bǎ zhège wèntí de quán guòchéng dōu jiěshì qīngchǔ le.
    • English: He explained the entire process of this issue clearly.
    • Analysis: 全 is used here to modify 过程 (guòchéng - process), emphasizing that every single step was explained.
  • Example 8:
    • 请在这里写下您的全名。
    • Pinyin: Qǐng zài zhèlǐ xiě xià nín de quánmíng.
    • English: Please write down your full name here.
    • Analysis: A simple, practical example. 全名 (quánmíng) means “full name,” as opposed to just a surname or given name.
  • Example 9:
    • 全球化给世界带来了机遇和挑战。
    • Pinyin: Quánqiúhuà gěi shìjiè dài láile jīyù hé tiǎozhàn.
    • English: Globalization has brought opportunities and challenges to the world.
    • Analysis: 全球 (quánqiú) means “the entire globe,” and the suffix -化 (-huà) means “-ization.” This is a common word in formal and news contexts.
  • Example 10:
    • 你说的这些我全不明白。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ shuō de zhèxiē wǒ quán bù míngbái.
    • English: I don't understand any of what you said at all.
    • Analysis: Here, 全 acts as an adverb to intensify the negative 不 (bù). It's similar to saying “I completely don't understand.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Mistake: Confusing 全 (quán) and 都 (dōu).
    • This is the most common pitfall. Remember: 全 defines the group, 都 applies the action to the group.
    • Correct: 我们全家都喜欢中国菜。 (Wǒmen quánjiā dōu xǐhuān Zhōngguó cài.) - Our whole family all like Chinese food.
    • Incorrect: `我们都家喜欢中国菜。` (都 cannot modify the noun 家).
    • Awkward: `我们全家喜欢中国菜。` (Grammatically okay, but adding 都 makes it sound much more natural and emphatic).
  • Mistake: Using 全 alone to mean “all of it.”
    • In English, you can answer “Did you eat the cake?” with “I ate all.” In Chinese, you cannot just say `我吃了全`. You need to use a more complete form.
    • Correct: 我全部都吃了。 (Wǒ quánbù dōu chī le.) - I ate all of it.
    • Correct: 我都吃了。 (Wǒ dōu chī le.) - I ate it all.
  • Nuance: 全 vs. 整个 (zhěnggè)
    • Both can mean “the whole,” but 整个 often emphasizes the indivisible, continuous nature of something, especially time or a single object.
    • 全天 (quántiān) - All day (as in a 24-hour period).
    • 整个早上 (zhěnggè zǎoshang) - The whole morning (emphasizing the entire continuous block of morning time).

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 都 (dōu) - The essential adverb meaning “all” or “both,” which almost always follows a group defined by 全.
  • 全部 (quánbù) - A noun/adverb for “all,” “the entire part.” It's more concrete than 全 and can often stand alone to mean “all of it.”
  • 所有 (suǒyǒu) - An adjective meaning “all” or “all of the,” used like `所有的人` (suǒyǒu de rén - all of the people).
  • 整个 (zhěnggè) - An adjective meaning “the whole,” “the entire.” Best used for emphasizing a single, complete unit (e.g., the whole apple, the whole story).
  • 完全 (wánquán) - An adverb meaning “completely” or “entirely.” It describes the degree of an action or state, not the scope of a noun.
  • 安全 (ānquán) - The noun/adjective for “safety” or “safe.” A vital compound word built from 全.
  • 全面 (quánmiàn) - An adjective meaning “comprehensive” or “all-around.” (e.g., a comprehensive plan).
  • 全体 (quántǐ) - A noun meaning “all members” of a body or organization, often used in formal settings.