zhěnggè: 整个 - Whole, Entire, All

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• Summary: Learn how to use “zhěnggè” (整个), a fundamental Chinese word meaning “whole” or “entire.” This guide explains its core meaning, how it differs from similar words like “suǒyǒu” (所有), and provides practical examples for everyday conversation. Master “zhěnggè” to emphasize the complete totality of a noun, from “the whole day” to “the entire city,” and sound more like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhěnggè
• Part of Speech: Adjective / Determiner
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Used before a noun to mean “the whole” or “the entire” of a single entity.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `整个` (zhěnggè) as drawing a big circle around one thing. It's not about “all the apples” in a basket, but about “the whole apple” that you're about to eat. It emphasizes the completeness and totality of a single noun, treating it as one unified block of time, space, or concept.

• 整 (zhěng): This character means “whole,” “complete,” “entire,” or “tidy.” It conveys a sense of something being in a state of completeness and order.
• 个 (gè): This is the most common measure word in Mandarin Chinese, used for individual, countable items. It's the go-to counter when no other specific measure word applies.
• The two characters combine literally to mean “a whole one.” This fusion of “whole” + a generic counter makes `整个` an incredibly versatile adjective that can be applied to almost any noun to emphasize its entirety.

While `整个` is a functional word, its frequent use reflects a common perspective in Chinese communication: viewing things holistically. Rather than just saying “I worked today,” it's very common to say “I worked the whole day” (`我工作了整个白天`) to frame the experience as a complete, single block of time. This contrasts subtly with the Western tendency to sometimes focus more on the components. For example, in English, “all” and “whole” have distinct uses. You eat a “whole” pizza (one unit) but you invite “all” your friends (many units). Chinese makes a similar distinction, and `整个` is the primary tool for the “whole.” Using it correctly shows you're not just counting items but are able to describe a singular, complete entity, which is a key part of fluent expression.

`整个` is a high-frequency word used in all registers, from formal reports to internet slang.

• Emphasizing Time Periods: It's extremely common to use `整个` to describe the entirety of a time period.
  • `整个晚上` (zhěnggè wǎnshàng) - The whole evening
  • `整个星期` (zhěnggè xīngqī) - The entire week
• Describing Places and Objects: It emphasizes the full extent of a physical space or object.
  • `整个城市` (zhěnggè chéngshì) - The entire city
  • `整个身体` (zhěnggè shēntǐ) - The whole body
• Abstract Concepts: It can also be applied to non-physical things to stress their totality.
  • `整个过程` (zhěnggè guòchéng) - The entire process
  • `整个计划` (zhěnggè jìhuà) - The whole plan
• Informal & Online Usage: In modern slang, `我整个人都不好了` (Wǒ zhěnggè rén dōu bù hǎo le) is a popular, slightly dramatic phrase. It literally means “My whole person is not good anymore,” but it's used to mean “I'm freaking out,” “I'm speechless,” or “I'm completely exhausted by this.”

• Example 1:
  • 他一个人吃了整个比萨。
  • Pinyin: Tā yí gè rén chī le zhěnggè bǐsà.
  • English: He ate the entire pizza by himself.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example. `整个` treats the pizza as one single, complete item that was consumed.
• Example 2:
  • 昨晚，整个城市都停电了。
  • Pinyin: Zuówǎn, zhěnggè chéngshì dōu tíngdiàn le.
  • English: Last night, the whole city had a power outage.
  • Analysis: This emphasizes that the power outage affected the city as a single, unified area. Notice how it's often paired with `都 (dōu)`.
• Example 3:
  • 我花了一整个下午来打扫房间。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ huā le yī zhěnggè xiàwǔ lái dǎsǎo fángjiān.
  • English: I spent the whole afternoon cleaning the room.
  • Analysis: Here, `一 (yī)` is added before `整个` to mean “one whole afternoon.” This `一整…` structure is very common with time.
• Example 4:
  • 听了这个坏消息，我整个人都懵了。
  • Pinyin: Tīng le zhège huài xiāoxi, wǒ zhěnggè rén dōu měng le.
  • English: After hearing this bad news, my whole being was stunned.
  • Analysis: `整个人` is a common collocation to describe a person's complete state of being, physically and mentally.
• Example 5:
  • 整个项目进行得很顺利。
  • Pinyin: Zhěnggè xiàngmù jìnxíng de hěn shùnlì.
  • English: The entire project is progressing very smoothly.
  • Analysis: This applies `整个` to an abstract concept (a project), treating it as a single, holistic undertaking.
• Example 6:
  • 这本书我读了整个星期才读完。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū wǒ dú le zhěnggè xīngqī cái dú wán.
  • English: It took me the whole week to finish reading this book.
  • Analysis: Another example of emphasizing a complete block of time. It implies a continuous or dedicated effort throughout that period.
• Example 7:
  • 整个办公室只有他一个人会说法语。
  • Pinyin: Zhěnggè bàngōngshì zhǐyǒu tā yí gè rén huì shuō Fǎyǔ.
  • English: In the entire office, only he can speak French.
  • Analysis: This defines the scope of the statement. The “only he” applies to the complete unit of “the office.”
• Example 8:
  • 那个进球让整个体育场都沸腾了。
  • Pinyin: Nàge jìnqiú ràng zhěnggè tǐyùchǎng dōu fèiténg le.
  • English: That goal made the whole stadium erupt with excitement.
  • Analysis: The stadium is treated as one single entity, and the excitement filled its entirety.
• Example 9:
  • 他的演讲影响了我们这一整个时代的人。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yǎnjiǎng yǐngxiǎng le wǒmen zhè yī zhěnggè shídài de rén.
  • English: His speech influenced people of our entire generation.
  • Analysis: This shows `整个` can be used for vast, abstract concepts like a generation or an era (`时代`).
• Example 10:
  • 看到我的电脑蓝屏了，我整个人都不好了。
  • Pinyin: Kàn dào wǒ de diànnǎo lánpíng le, wǒ zhěnggè rén dōu bù hǎo le.
  • English: Seeing my computer's blue screen of death, I was completely freaking out.
  • Analysis: This is the popular internet slang. It's an exaggeration that expresses a feeling of total shock, despair, or exhaustion.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between `整个` (zhěnggè) and `所有` (suǒyǒu).

• `整个` (zhěnggè) → The Whole (Single Unit)
  • Use `整个` when you are talking about one complete thing.
  • Think: The whole pie, the whole day, the whole company.
  • Example: `我吃了整个蛋糕。` (Wǒ chīle zhěnggè dàngāo.) - I ate the whole cake. (one cake)
• `所有` (suǒyǒu) → All (Multiple Units)
  • Use `所有` when you are talking about every individual member of a group.
  • Think: All the slices, all the people, all the companies.
  • Example: `我吃了所有的蛋糕。` (Wǒ chīle suǒyǒu de dàngāo.) - I ate all the cakes. (more than one cake)
• Common Mistake:
  • Incorrect: `整个学生都来了。` (Zhěnggè xuéshēng dōu lái le.)
  • Why it's wrong: This literally means “The whole student came.” You are treating “student” as a single entity, which doesn't make sense.
  • Correct: `所有的学生都来了。` (Suǒyǒu de xuéshēng dōu lái le.) - All of the students came.

• 所有 (suǒyǒu) - Antonym/Distinction: Means “all” and refers to every individual member of a group, whereas `整个` refers to a single complete unit.
• 全部 (quánbù) - Synonym: Means “all” or “total.” It is very similar to `所有` and is used to refer to the sum total of a group of items.
• 都 (dōu) - Complementary term: An adverb meaning “all” or “both” that is placed after the subject and before the verb. It is often used in the same sentence as `整个` for emphasis (e.g., `整个城市都很安静`).
• 全 (quán) - Component Character: The character for “all, whole, entire.” It can be used as a prefix to form words like `全国` (quánguó, whole country) or `全力` (quánlì, full strength).
• 完整 (wánzhěng) - Related Concept: An adjective meaning “complete” or “intact.” It describes the state of something having all its parts, rather than quantifying a noun like `整个`. (e.g., `一个完整的故事` - a complete story).
• 一切 (yīqiè) - Related Concept: A pronoun meaning “everything” or “all.” It's more abstract and refers to all things in general, not usually a specific, countable noun. (e.g., `一切都会好的` - Everything will be okay).
• 整体 (zhěngtǐ) - Related Noun: A noun meaning “the whole,” “entity,” or “totality.” It refers to the concept of the whole itself. (e.g., `我们必须考虑整体情况` - We must consider the situation as a whole).