quántǐ: 全体 - All, Entire, Whole (as a collective)

• Keywords: 全体, quanti, Chinese for all, Chinese for entire group, everybody, all members, whole body, collective, 全部, 大家, 所有, HSK 4
• Summary: Learn how to use “全体” (quántǐ), a key Chinese term for “all” or “the entire group.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in formal situations like business meetings and public announcements. Discover the difference between 全体 (quántǐ), 大家 (dàjiā), and 所有 (suǒyǒu) to sound more natural and precise when referring to a collective body of people.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): quán tǐ
• Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: All members of a group; the entire body.
• In a Nutshell: `全体` means “all,” but with the specific feeling of addressing a complete, unified group as a single entity. Think of it less as “all of you individuals” and more as “the entire body of members.” It’s a formal and respectful way to refer to a whole group, like “the entire staff” or “the student body.”

• 全 (quán): This character means “all,” “whole,” or “complete.” It suggests a sense of entirety and inclusiveness, with nothing left out.
• 体 (tǐ): This character means “body,” “form,” or “entity.” It has the person radical (亻) on the left, emphasizing its connection to people or a physical form.
• When combined, `全体 (quántǐ)` literally translates to “whole body.” This is the key to understanding its meaning: it refers to a group of people (or sometimes things in an organized system) as a single, complete collective.

`全体` is a powerful word that reflects the importance of the collective in Chinese culture. While Western cultures often emphasize the individual, traditional Chinese values frequently prioritize the group, whether it's the family, the company, or the nation. Using `全体` reinforces this group identity. When a leader addresses the `全体员工` (all staff), they are not just speaking to a collection of individuals; they are addressing the company as a single, unified body. This creates a sense of shared purpose and collective responsibility. A good comparison in English is the difference between saying “Hey, everybody!” and “Attention, all personnel.” The first is casual and individual-focused, similar to `大家 (dàjiā)`. The second is formal, institutional, and treats the group as an organized unit, which is the feeling `全体` often conveys. It's the language of assemblies, official announcements, and moments that require group unity.

`全体` is primarily used in formal or semi-formal contexts. You'll hear and see it frequently in the workplace, schools, and in public announcements.

• In Business and the Workplace: This is one of the most common places to find `全体`. It's used in emails, meetings, and official notices.
  • `全体员工 (quántǐ yuángōng)` - All staff / The entire staff
  • `全体成员 (quántǐ chéngyuán)` - All members
  • `全体董事会 (quántǐ dǒngshìhuì)` - The entire board of directors
• Public Announcements and Formal Events: At airports, train stations, or formal ceremonies, `全体` is used to address the whole group.
  • `全体乘客 (quántǐ chéngkè)` - All passengers
  • `请全体起立 (qǐng quántǐ qǐlì)` - Please, everyone rise.
• Expressing Unified Stance: It can be used to emphasize that a group is completely united in an opinion or action.
  • `我们全体同意 (wǒmen quántǐ tóngyì)` - We all agree. (Stronger and more formal than `我们都同意`).

It is generally considered too formal for casual conversation with friends. In that case, you would use `大家 (dàjiā)`.

• Example 1:
  • 经理要求全体员工明天早上九点开会。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ yāoqiú quántǐ yuángōng míngtiān zǎoshang jiǔ diǎn kāihuì.
  • English: The manager requires all staff to attend a meeting at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
  • Analysis: A very typical example of formal workplace communication. `全体员工` treats the staff as a single unit being given an instruction.
• Example 2:
  • 在国歌响起时，请全体起立。
  • Pinyin: Zài guógē xiǎngqǐ shí, qǐng quántǐ qǐlì.
  • English: When the national anthem plays, please have everyone stand up.
  • Analysis: This is a formal command given to a large group at a public event. `全体` is perfect here.
• Example 3:
  • 船长命令全体船员立刻到甲板集合。
  • Pinyin: Chuánzhǎng mìnglìng quántǐ chuányuán lìkè dào jiǎbǎn jíhé.
  • English: The captain ordered the entire crew to assemble on deck immediately.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of `全体` for a specific, organized group (the crew) taking a unified action.
• Example 4:
  • 这项荣誉属于我们全体团队。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng róngyù shǔyú wǒmen quántǐ tuánduì.
  • English: This honor belongs to our entire team.
  • Analysis: Using `全体` here emphasizes that the achievement was a collective effort, not the work of individuals.
• Example 5:
  • 感谢全体市民的合作，城市很快恢复了正常。
  • Pinyin: Gǎnxiè quántǐ shìmín de hézuò, chéngshì hěn kuài huīfùle zhèngcháng.
  • English: Thanks to the cooperation of all citizens, the city quickly returned to normal.
  • Analysis: This is an example of formal, public-facing language a government official might use.
• Example 6:
  • 这个决定需要全体家庭成员的同意。
  • Pinyin: Zhège juédìng xūyào quántǐ jiātíng chéngyuán de tóngyì.
  • English: This decision requires the consent of all family members.
  • Analysis: While `家庭 (jiātíng)` can be an informal unit, using `全体` here makes the situation sound more serious and official, as if it were a family council.
• Example 7:
  • 他代表全体毕业生发表了感言。
  • Pinyin: Tā dàibiǎo quántǐ bìyèshēng fābiǎole gǎnyán.
  • English: He delivered a speech on behalf of all the graduates.
  • Analysis: `全体毕业生` refers to the “entire graduating class” as a single body.
• Example 8:
  • 全体乘客请注意，我们即将开始登机。
  • Pinyin: Quántǐ chéngkè qǐng zhùyì, wǒmen jíjiāng kāishǐ dēngjī.
  • English: Attention all passengers, we will begin boarding shortly.
  • Analysis: Classic airport announcement language. It's a formal and efficient way to address everyone at the gate.
• Example 9:
  • 我们公司的成功，离不开全体同仁的共同努力。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de chénggōng, lìbukāi quántǐ tóngrén de gòngtóng nǔlì.
  • English: Our company's success is inseparable from the joint efforts of all our colleagues.
  • Analysis: A phrase often heard in company speeches, giving credit to the collective. `同仁 (tóngrén)` is a formal word for colleague.
• Example 10:
  • 在灾难面前，全体国民团结一心。
  • Pinyin: Zài zāinàn miànqián, quántǐ guómín tuánjié yīxīn.
  • English: In the face of disaster, the entire nation is united as one.
  • Analysis: This shows `全体` used on a national scale, emphasizing unity and collective spirit.

The most common point of confusion for learners is choosing between `全体`, `大家`, and `所有`.

• `全体` (quántǐ) vs. `大家` (dàjiā):
  • Formality: `全体` is formal. `大家` is informal and friendly. You'd say `大家好 (dàjiā hǎo)` to start a casual presentation, but an official company memo would begin with `致全体员工 (zhì quántǐ yuángōng)` (To all staff).
  • Usage: `全体` usually modifies a noun describing the group (`全体员工`), while `大家` stands on its own (“Everybody, listen…”).
• `全体` (quántǐ) vs. `所有` (suǒyǒu):
  • Target: `全体` is almost exclusively used for groups of people or well-defined, organized bodies. `所有` is a general-purpose “all” that can be used for people, objects, abstract concepts, etc.
  • Common Mistake: Saying `全体苹果` for “all the apples.” This is incorrect because apples don't form an organized body.
  • Correct: `所有的苹果 (suǒyǒu de píngguǒ)` - All the apples.
  • Correct: `全体人员 (quántǐ rényuán)` or `所有的人 (suǒyǒu de rén)` - All the people/personnel. Both are correct, but `全体` implies they are part of a specific group (e.g., staff, members), while `所有` is more general.

• 大家 (dàjiā) - The informal, conversational equivalent of “everybody.” Much more common in daily speech.
• 所有 (suǒyǒu) - The general determiner for “all,” used for both people and things. Less formal and less focused on the group as a unit.
• 全部 (quánbù) - Means “all” or “the whole part.” It's often used for things, quantities, or the entirety of an object. Closer to “the whole lot.”
• 集体 (jítǐ) - A noun meaning “collective.” `全体` describes the “all-ness” of the `集体`. They are closely related; `集体活动` is a “group activity.”
• 成员 (chéngyuán) - A “member” of a group. The individuals who make up the `全体`.
• 整体 (zhěngtǐ) - “Whole” or “entirety,” usually referring to a system, structure, or concept as a single entity. It's more abstract than `全体`.
• 个人 (gèrén) - “Individual.” The direct antonym of `集体` and the conceptual opposite of `全体`.
• 人人 (rénrén) - “Everyone” or “every single person.” This word emphasizes each individual within the group, whereas `全体` emphasizes the group as a single whole.