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

The structure is quite simple, just 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 + Verb

Examples

• 我们 全 家 都 去 过 北京 。Wǒmen quán jiā dōu qù guo Běijīng.Our entire family have 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.
• 打 完 球 以后 我 全 身 都 是 汗 。Dǎ wán qiú yǐhòu wǒ quán shēn dōu shì hàn.My whole body sweat after playing the ball.
• 全 校 都 放假 了 。Quán xiào dōu fàngjià le.The whole school are on holiday.
• 这个 地方 全 年 都 很 热 。Zhège dìfang quán nián dōu hěn rè.It's hot here the whole year.

Used before a Verb

Affirmative Pattern

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 + Verb / Adj.

Examples

• 大家 全 都 到 了。Dàjiā quán dōu dào le.Everybody has come.
• 作业 全 都 做 完 了 吗？Zuòyè quán dōu zuò wán le ma?You've finished all your homework?
• 我 全 都 听懂 了。Wǒ quán dōu tīngdǒng le.I heard and understood all.
• 你 全 都 拿 走 吧。Nǐ quán dōu ná zǒu ba.Take them all.
• 他 把 咖啡 全 都 喝 了。Tā bǎ kāfēi quán dōu hē le.He drank up all the coffee.

Negative Pattern: 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 + Verb / Adj.

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 bù zài jiā.None of us will be home this weekend.
• 他 的 话 我 全 都 不 相信。Tā de huà wǒ quán dōu bù xiāngxìn.I don't believe anything he says.
• 你们 的 员工 全 都 不 会 说 英语 吗 ？Nǐmen de yuángōng quándōu bù huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma.None of your employees can speak English?
• 你 的 家人 全 都 没 来 参加 你 的 婚礼 ？Nǐ de jiārén quán dōu méi lái cānjiā nǐ de hūnlǐ?None of your family came to your wedding?

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＋Verb / Adj.

Examples

• 中国 菜 我 不 是 全 都 喜欢 。 Zhōngguó cài wǒ bù shì quán dōu xǐhuan.I don't like all Chinese food.
• 这 篇 文章 太 长 了 ，我 没 全 都 看完 。Zhè piān wénzhāng tài cháng le, wǒ méi quán dōu kàn wán.This article is too long. I didn't finish reading it all.
• 他 的 话 你 不 能 全 都 相信 。 Tā de huà nǐ bù néng quán dōu xiāngxìn.You can't believe everything he says.
• 你 说 得 太 快 了 ， 我 不 可能 全 都 记 下来 。 Nǐ shuō de tài kuài le, wǒ bù kěnéng quán dōu jì xiàlái. You spoke too fast. I can't write down all of what you said.
• 地方 太 小 ，我们 的 朋友 不 能 全 都 邀请 。 Dìfang tài xiǎo, wǒmen de péngyou bù néng quán dōu yāoqǐng.The place is too small. We can't invite all our friends.

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 (p.457) →buy