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).
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.