quánmiàn: 全面 - Comprehensive, Overall, All-around
Quick Summary
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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)`.
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.
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.