全て

• Reading: すべて
• Romaji: subete
• Kanji breakdown: 全 (zen/sube) — all, whole, complete
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.be.te/

Meaning

All; everything; the whole; entirely.

A noun and adverb meaning 'everything' or 'all of something.' Can modify nouns with の (全ての人, all people) or stand alone as a subject or object. More formal than 全部 and carries a slightly literary or emphatic tone. Sometimes written in hiragana as すべて.

Examples

1. 全ての準備が終わった。 All the preparations are done.
2. 彼は全てを失ってしまった。 He lost everything.
3. この仕事が全て終わるまで帰れない。 I can't go home until all this work is finished.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, formal writing, speeches

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the kanji 全 (whole, complete) combined with the native Japanese reading すべて. The kanji 全 depicts a jewel (玉) under a roof (入), suggesting something kept whole and intact.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal