全部

• Pinyin: quán bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 全 (quán) = 入 (enter) + 王 (jade), meaning complete; 部 (bù) = 咅 (phonetic) + 阝(city), meaning section

Meaning

All; entire; whole; everything. Emphasises that nothing is left out.

A comprehensive term meaning 'all of it' or 'everything.' Can function as a noun (全部都在这里 — all of it is here), adjective (全部人 — all people), or adverb (全部做完了 — finished all of it). Stronger and more formal than 都 (all) and interchangeable with 所有 in many contexts.

Examples

1. 我已经把作业全部做完了。 I have already finished all the homework.
2. 这些东西全部是你的。 All of these things are yours.
3. 全部学生都参加了考试。 All students took the exam.

Usage Guide

Context: emphasising completeness, lists, everyday

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 钱全部花完了。(The money is all spent.)
• 我把全部的事情都告诉你。(I'll tell you everything.)

Don't Say

• 全部和所有意思相近但用法不同 (全部 modifies a known set — 全部学生 means all the students in our group; 所有 is broader — 所有学生 can mean all students everywhere)

Origin & History

全 (quán, complete/whole) + 部 (bù, part/section). Paradoxically combines 'complete' with 'part,' meaning 'all parts' — every section, hence everything.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal