====== 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 **quán**jiā 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 **quán**bù 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 **quán**shēn 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 **wán**quán 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 **ān**quán, 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 **quán**tǐ 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 **quán**míng.
    * 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: **Quán**qiúhuà 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.