Indicating the whole with "quan"

One of the uses of 全 (quán) is to indicate the entirety of something. It could be used for something like a whole household, an entire country, the whole world, etc.

Used before Noun

Structure

Simply put 全 in front of the noun you want to emphasize "the whole" of. You cannot use it with 的. Pay attention to the types of nouns you can use with 全, since it is usually paired up with 身 (body), 家 (family), 国 (country), 世界 (world), 天 (day) and the like.

全 + Noun + 都 + Predicate

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

• 我们 全 家 都 去 过 北京 。Wǒmen quán jiā dōu qù guo Běijīng.Our entire family has been to Beijing.
• 全 公司 的 人 都 不 喜欢 新 老板 。Quán gōngsī de rén dōu bù xǐhuan xīn lǎobǎn.The whole company doesn't like the new boss.
• 运动 完 以后 我 全 身 都 是 汗 。Yùndòng wán yǐhòu wǒ quán shēn dōu shì hàn.My whole body was sweaty after I finished exercising.
• 全 校 都 放假 了 。Quán xiào dōu fàngjià le.The whole school is on break.
• 这个 地方 全 年 都 很 热 。Zhège dìfang quán nián dōu hěn rè.This place is hot all year round.

Used before Predicate

Affirmative Form

Before a verb 全 can be omitted, but if it is used, the purpose is to emphasize the idea of "all" or "entire."

Structure

Subj. + 全都 + Predicate

Examples

• 大家 全 都 到 了。Dàjiā quán dōu dào le.Everybody has arrived.
• 奶奶 的 头发 全 都 白 了。Nǎinai de tóufà quán dōu bái le.All of grandma's hair has turned white.
• 我 妈妈 做 的 菜 全 都 好吃 。Wǒ māma zuò de cài quán dōu hǎochī.All of the food that my mother makes is tasty.
• 作业 全 都 做 完 了 吗 ？Zuòyè quán dōu zuò wán le ma?Have you finished all your homework?
• 你 全 都 拿 走 吧。Nǐ quán dōu názǒu ba.Take them all.

Negative Form: Total Negation

Structure

When you negate 全都 with 不 or 没 after it, you're not just saying "not entirely," you're saying "none of it" or "not at all."

Subj. + 全都 + 不 / 没 + Predicate

Examples

• 他们 全 都 没 去 。Tāmen quán dōu méi qù.None of them went.
• 这个 周末 我们 全 都 不 在 家 。Zhège zhōumò wǒmen quán dōu bú zài jiā.None of us will be home this weekend.
• 你们 全 都 不 怕 吗 ？Nǐmen quán dōu bú pà ma?Are none of you afraid?
• 这些 菜 全 都 没 熟 。Zhèxiē cài quán dōu méi shú.None of these dishes is fully cooked.
• 他 的 话 我 全 都 不 相信 。Tā de huà wǒ quán dōu bù xiāngxìn.I don't believe anything he says.

Negative Pattern: Partial Negation

Structure

When you negate by putting 不 or 没 before 全都, you're only partially negating. In other words, you're communicating "not all."

Subj. + 不 / 没 + 全都 + Predicate

Examples

• 他 说 得 有 道理 ，但 我 不 全 都 同意 。Tā shuō de yǒu dàolǐ, dàn wǒ bù quán dōu tóngyì.He has a point, but I don't agree with all of it.
• 菜 太 多 了 ，我们 没 全 都 吃完 。Cài tài duō le, wǒmen méi quán dōu chī wán.The food was too much. We didn't finish eating it all.
• 昨天 作业 太 多 了 ，我 没 全 都 做完 。Zuótiān zuòyè tài duō le, wǒ méi quán dōu zuò wán.I had too much homework yesterday. I didn't finish doing it all.
• 我 的 家人 没 全 都 来 参加 我 的 婚礼 。Wǒ de jiārén méi quán dōu lái cānjiā wǒ de hūnlǐ.Not all of my family came to my wedding.
• 你 说 得 太 快 了 ， 我 没 全 都 记 下来 。Nǐ shuō de tài kuài le, wǒ méi quán dōu jì xiàlái.You spoke too fast. I didn't write down all of what you said.

See also

• Referring to "all" using "suoyou"
• Expressing "Everyone" with "shei"
• Expressing "All" with "shenme dou"
• Expressing "Every" with "mei" and "dou"
• Emphasizing quantity with "dou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词 (pp. 457) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy