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March 24, 2026
全quán(Quan2)
The character 全 (quán) means 'all', 'whole', or 'complete'. It is commonly used to express totality or entirety, often in phrases that denote inclusion or completeness, such as '全部' (quán bù) meaning 'everything' or '全家' (quán jiā) meaning 'the whole family'. This character conveys a sense of wholeness and is frequently applied in both formal and informal contexts.
Strokes6Radical入Frequency#439DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of wholeness is significant, especially in family and community contexts. The phrase '全家福' (quán jiā fú) refers to a family portrait, symbolizing unity and completeness within the family.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant circle that encompasses everything—this is the essence of 全 (quán). The left side resembles a person embracing everything around them, while the right side looks like a complete ‘whole’. Picture someone saying 'I want it all!' as they embrace the circle.
Meanings of 全
quán(Quan2)
1all
2whole
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 全
全Simplified
6Strokes
入Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#439Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 全
Podcast: 全
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AI Study Notes for 全
Quick Contrast
全 (quán) vs 整 (zhěng) — use 全 for totality or entirety, while 整 emphasizes completeness in terms of order or arrangement.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant circle that encompasses everything—this is the essence of 全 (quán). The left side resembles a person embracing everything around them, while the right side looks like a complete ‘whole’. Picture someone saying 'I want it all!' as they embrace the circle.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 全 with 许多 (xǔ duō), which means 'many' but does not imply completeness. It's important to use 全 in contexts where totality is intended. Be cautious with tones; using a wrong tone can change the meaning dramatically. It is often used in formal contexts but can also be used informally.
HSK Study Tips
全 is not an HSK level word, but it connects with HSK 2 vocabulary like '每' (měi), meaning 'every'. Focus on using 全 in sentences that require a sense of totality to reinforce the concept of completeness in your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of wholeness is significant, especially in family and community contexts. The phrase '全家福' (quán jiā fú) refers to a family portrait, symbolizing unity and completeness within the family.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 全 (quán) with 整 (zhěng), which also means 'complete' but has a different nuance. For example, saying '整所有' instead of '全所有' is incorrect; you should say '全部' (quán bù) for 'all'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 全
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Grammar Patterns of 全
全 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
You'll take everything you're offered yet your own generosity is virtually non-existent.
Cultural Notes for 全
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the concept of '全' (whole or complete) is significant, especially in family and community contexts, symbolizing unity and togetherness.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of wholeness is significant, especially in family and community contexts. The phrase '全家福' (quán jiā fú) refers to a family portrait, symbolizing unity and completeness within the family.
Word Family of 全
Compounds23
栓shuan1cork, peg, stopper
痊quan2cured, healed; to recover
拴shuan1to fasten, to bind
诠quan2to expound, to explain, to comment on
荃quan2aromatic herb; fine cloth
佺
牷
筌quan2bamboo fish trap
跧
辁quan2limited (in talent or ability); a solid wheel without spokes
铨quan2to weigh, to measure; to select, to elect; to estimate
姾
峑
恮
洤
烇
硂
絟
詮quan2to expound, to explain, to comment on
輇
酫
銓quan2to weigh, to measure; to select, to elect; to estimate
駩
Words Containing This Character20
完全wánquáncomplete
安全ānquánsafe
全quánall
全国quánguówhole nation全國
全部quánbùwhole
全面quánmiànall-around
全球quánqiúentire
全世界quánshìjièworldwide
全都quándōuall
全新quánxīnall new
全体quántǐall全體
全省the whole province
全力quánlìfull strength
全市whole city
全身quánshēnwhole body
全家quánjiāwhole family
全场quánchǎngeveryone present全場
健全jiànquánrobust
全年quánniánthe whole year
安全感sense of security
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 栓 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 全
Yes, 全 is commonly used in everyday Chinese conversation. It can describe entirety in various contexts, such as '全家' (quánjiā) meaning 'the whole family' or '全力以赴' (quánlì yǐfù) meaning 'to do something with all one's effort.'
全 (quán) generally refers to 'whole' or 'entire', while 所有 (suǒyǒu) means 'all' or 'every' in the context of possession. For instance, 全 focuses on completeness, whereas 所有 emphasizes ownership or collection.
全 can be used to indicate that something is whole or complete. For example, you can say '我全都明白了' (Wǒ quán dōu míngbái le), which means 'I understand everything.' It emphasizes that you grasp all aspects of the topic.
全 (quán) means 'whole', 'entire', or 'complete'. It is often used to describe something that is whole or all-encompassing. Additionally, it can also be a common surname in China.
Common phrases include '全部' (quán bù) meaning 'everything' and '全家' (quán jiā) meaning 'the whole family'.
Yes, 全 is frequently used in both spoken and written Chinese to express totality.
全 is pronounced with the second tone, rising in pitch, as 'quán'.
