一概

• Pinyin: yī gài
• Hanzi breakdown: 一 = single horizontal stroke (uniform/one); 概 = 木 + 既 (wood + already eaten — a wooden rod used to level off excess grain in a measure, symbolising uniformity and standardisation)

Meaning

Without exception; across the board; universally. Used to indicate that something applies to all members of a category, with no distinctions made.

A formal adverb used before verbs, often in declarative rules, regulations, or emphatic statements. Typically appears in constructions like 一概不…、一概按…处理、一概视为…. More sweeping and absolute than 都 or 全部, and often carries an authoritative or rigid tone.

Examples

1. 公司规定，不论员工级别高低，迟到超过三十分钟者一概按事假处理，不得享受当日全勤奖励。 Company policy states that regardless of rank, anyone who is more than thirty minutes late will be treated as taking personal leave and will not receive that day’s perfect-attendance bonus.
2. 海关公告明示，所有未申报的进境物品一概予以没收，当事人同时面临相应的行政处罚。 The customs notice clearly states that all undeclared incoming items will be confiscated, and the person involved will also face corresponding administrative penalties.
3. 图书馆的新规要求，馆内所有饮料，无论是矿泉水还是咖啡，一概不得带入阅览室。 Under the library’s new rules, no drinks of any kind—whether bottled water or coffee—may be brought into the reading room.

Usage Guide

Context: regulations, policy, administration, law

Tone: authoritative

Do Say

• 根据最新颁布的廉政规定，公务员在履职期间收受的所有礼品，无论价值高低，一概须按规定上缴公务廉政账户，违者将依纪依规严肃处理。(According to the latest anti-corruption regulations, all gifts received by civil servants during the performance of their duties, regardless of value, must be handed over to the official integrity account as required; violators will be dealt with seriously in accordance with party discipline and regulations.)
• 招生委员会宣布，凡在材料审核阶段发现存在虚假陈述的申请者，其申请资格一概予以取消，且三年内不得再次申请。(The admissions committee announced that any applicant found to have made false statements during the document review stage will have their application qualification revoked across the board, and they may not reapply for three years.)

Don't Say

• 我一概喜欢所有食物 — 一概 typically appears in negative or restrictive statements (一概不、一概予以); using it in a purely positive statement like 'I uniformly like all food' is unidiomatic; use 我什么食物都喜欢 instead

Origin & History

一 (one/uniformly) + 概 (a grain-levelling stick used to smooth grain in a measuring vessel — hence 'to level/standardise') — together meaning 'to level everything the same way', i.e. without distinction

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal