Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== quánmiàn: 全面 - Comprehensive, Overall, All-around ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** quanmian, 全面, comprehensive in Chinese, overall Chinese, all-around Chinese, quánmiàn meaning, how to use quanmian, Chinese word for holistic, 全面发展, comprehensive plan, Chinese politics * **Summary:** Learn how to use **quánmiàn (全面)**, a key Chinese term meaning "comprehensive," "overall," or "all-around." This page breaks down its meaning, from its character origins (全 all + 面 side) to its critical role in official government policy and everyday life. Discover how `quánmiàn` is used to describe everything from a well-thought-out plan and an all-around developed student to major national strategies, and learn to distinguish it from similar words like `全部 (quánbù)`. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** quánmiàn * **Part of Speech:** Adjective, Adverb * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** Covering all aspects or sides; comprehensive, overall, all-around. * **In a Nutshell:** `全面` describes something that is complete in scope, covering all necessary points and perspectives. Think of it as "seeing the whole picture" or "touching all the bases." It implies a high degree of thoroughness and breadth, whether you're talking about a plan, an analysis, a person's skills, or even a war. It carries a formal and serious tone, suggesting that nothing has been overlooked. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **全 (quán):** This character means "all," "whole," "entire," or "complete." It represents a state of totality. * **面 (miàn):** This character means "face," "surface," or "side." Think of the different faces of a cube or the surface of a table. When combined, **全面 (quánmiàn)** literally translates to "all faces" or "all sides." This creates a vivid image of an idea, plan, or object that has been examined from every possible angle, ensuring total and complete coverage. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== `全面` is a cornerstone of modern Chinese official and formal language, reflecting a cultural preference for holistic, top-down planning. It is frequently used in political slogans and national objectives, underscoring the government's ambition to address issues on a grand, all-encompassing scale. * **Political Slogans:** Phrases like `全面建成小康社会` (quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì - "to comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society") or `全面深化改革` (quánmiàn shēnhuà gǎigé - "to comprehensively deepen reform") are ubiquitous in state media. They signal a total commitment to a national goal. * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** In the West, we might use "holistic" or "360-degree" in business or wellness contexts. For example, "holistic medicine" considers the whole person. However, the Chinese use of `全面` often operates on a much larger, societal level. It's less about individual well-being and more about systemic, state-driven thoroughness. While a Western company might conduct a "360-degree review" of an employee, the Chinese government aims for the `全面` reform of an entire industry or society. This reflects a collectivist mindset where grand, all-inclusive plans are seen as the most effective way to achieve progress. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== `全面` has a distinctly formal feel and is used when you want to emphasize thoroughness and completeness. * **In Government and Business:** This is its most common habitat. It's used to describe policies, strategies, reports, and investigations. A `全面` plan is one that is well-researched and leaves no stone unturned. * e.g., `全面禁止` (quánmiàn jìnzhǐ) - a total ban * e.g., `全面合作` (quánmiàn hézuò) - comprehensive cooperation * **In Personal and Daily Life:** While more formal, it's used to describe someone's abilities or way of thinking. Praising someone for `考虑问题很全面` (kǎolǜ wèntí hěn quánmiàn) means they think things through very thoroughly. * The concept of `全面发展` (quánmiàn fāzhǎn - "all-around development") is a key goal in the Chinese education system, encouraging students to excel not just in academics but also in arts, sports, and moral character. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 你的计划非常**全面**，考虑到了所有可能的问题。 * Pinyin: Nǐ de jìhuà fēicháng **quánmiàn**, kǎolǜ dàole suǒyǒu kěnéng de wèntí. * English: Your plan is very comprehensive; it has considered all possible problems. * Analysis: This is a common and positive way to praise a plan or proposal in a work or academic setting. It highlights the quality of being thorough. * **Example 2:** * 我们需要对这个问题进行一次**全面**的调查。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào duì zhège wèntí jìnxíng yī cì **quánmiàn** de diàochá. * English: We need to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this issue. * Analysis: Here, `全面` functions as an adjective modifying "investigation" (`调查`). It emphasizes that the investigation must cover all aspects. * **Example 3:** * 从下个月起，公司将**全面**实行新的工作制度。 * Pinyin: Cóng xià ge yuè qǐ, gōngsī jiāng **quánmiàn** shíxíng xīn de gōngzuò zhìdù. * English: Starting next month, the company will fully implement the new work system. * Analysis: In this sentence, `全面` is used as an adverb, modifying the verb "implement" (`实行`). It means the implementation will be across the board, with no exceptions. * **Example 4:** * 他是一个**全面**发展的优秀学生。 * Pinyin: Tā shì yī gè **quánmiàn** fāzhǎn de yōuxiù xuéshēng. * English: He is an excellent student with all-around development. * Analysis: This uses the common set phrase `全面发展` (all-around development), a major goal in Chinese education. * **Example 5:** * 这篇报道不够**全面**，只讲了故事的一面。 * Pinyin: Zhè piān bàodào bùgòu **quánmiàn**, zhǐ jiǎng le gùshì de yī miàn. * English: This report isn't comprehensive enough; it only tells one side of the story. * Analysis: This shows how to use `全面` in a negative construction (`不够全面`) to criticize something for being one-sided or incomplete. * **Example 6:** * 两国爆发了**全面**战争。 * Pinyin: Liǎng guó bàofā le **quánmiàn** zhànzhēng. * English: An all-out war broke out between the two countries. * Analysis: `全面战争` (all-out war) is a serious, formal term indicating that the conflict involves all aspects of the nations, not just a limited border skirmish. * **Example 7:** * 为了了解自己的健康状况，他决定做一次**全面**的身体检查。 * Pinyin: Wèile liǎojiě zìjǐ de jiànkāng zhuàngkuàng, tā juédìng zuò yī cì **quánmiàn** de shēntǐ jiǎnchá. * English: In order to understand his health condition, he decided to get a comprehensive physical examination. * Analysis: `全面` is often paired with `检查` (jiǎnchá - examination/check-up) to mean a "full check-up." * **Example 8:** * 我们必须**全面**地看待这个问题，不能太主观。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū **quánmiàn** de kàndài zhège wèntí, bùnéng tài zhǔguān. * English: We must look at this issue comprehensively and not be too subjective. * Analysis: Here, `全面地` is the adverbial form, emphasizing the manner of "looking at" (`看待`) the issue. * **Example 9:** * 这次软件更新是对系统的一次**全面**升级。 * Pinyin: Zhè cì ruǎnjiàn gēngxīn shì duì xìtǒng de yī cì **quánmiàn** shēngjí. * English: This software update is a comprehensive upgrade of the system. * Analysis: Used in a tech context, this implies that all parts of the system were improved, not just one or two features. * **Example 10:** * 中国政府提出了**全面**建成小康社会的目标。 * Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ tíchū le **quánmiàn** jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì de mùbiāo. * English: The Chinese government has put forward the goal of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society. * Analysis: This is a perfect example of `全面` used in its official, political context, referring to a major national strategy. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between `全面 (quánmiàn)` and `全部 (quánbù)`. * **全面 (quánmiàn) → Quality of Scope (Comprehensive)** * Describes //how// something is done or its nature. It's about covering all aspects, sides, or facets. It answers the question, "Is it thorough?" * Example: 我需要一份**全面**的报告。(I need a **comprehensive** report.) * **全部 (quánbù) → Quantity of Items (All of it)** * Refers to the total number or amount of something. It answers the question, "How much/many?" * Example: **全部**的报告都在这里。(**All** of the reports are here.) **Common Mistake:** Using `全面` to mean "all" for a quantity of items. * **Incorrect:** 我吃了**全面**的苹果。 (I ate the comprehensive apple.) * **Correct:** 我吃了**全部**的苹果。 (I ate all of the apples.) * **Correct:** 我把苹果都吃了。(I ate all the apples. - a more natural way to say it). Think of it this way: a report can be `全面` (comprehensive), but you hand in `全部` (all) of your reports. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[全部]] (quánbù) - The most important distinction. Refers to the total quantity ("all of it"), not the comprehensive scope. * [[整体]] (zhěngtǐ) - Means "whole" or "entirety." It focuses on something as a single, indivisible unit, while `全面` focuses on the inclusion of all its different parts or aspects. * [[周到]] (zhōudào) - Means "thoughtful" or "attentive." When describing a person, `周到` implies they've considered others' needs carefully. A person who is `周到` in their planning will likely produce a `全面` plan. * [[彻底]] (chèdǐ) - Means "thorough" or "to the bottom." It emphasizes depth, while `全面` emphasizes breadth. You can `彻底` clean one room (clean it deeply), but you do a `全面` cleaning of the whole house (clean all rooms). * [[完整]] (wánzhěng) - Means "complete" or "intact." It's about not having any parts missing. A `完整` story has a beginning, middle, and end. A `全面` story would include all characters' perspectives. * [[各方面]] (gè fāngmiàn) - Literally "every aspect" or "all sides." It's a noun phrase often used to achieve a `全面` result. e.g., "We must consider `各方面` to make a `全面` decision." * [[综合]] (zōnghé) - Means "to synthesize" or "composite." It's about combining various elements together. A `综合` university has many different departments, offering a `全面` education.