全 (quán) · all, whole, entire

Meanings

1 all
2 whole
3 entire
4 complete

Characters

全

quán

whole; complete; entire

Examples

HSK 1

人到全了吗？

Rén dào quán le ma?

Is everyone here?

HSK 2

全班同学都来了。

Quán bān tóngxué dōu lái le.

All the classmates came.

HSK 2

这本书我全看完了。

Zhè běn shū wǒ quán kàn wán le.

I've read the entire book.

Tips

grammar

全 + noun + 都 is a common pattern: 全家都去了 (the whole family went). 全 modifies the scope, 都 emphasizes totality.

Components

radical

入 rù

enter; come in

Top 入 (enter) - also 全's indexing radical (Kangxi #11). Two strokes leaning together over the body below: the lid of a container, marking 'fully covered, complete.' One traditional reading takes 入 over 王 as 'jade kept whole inside its case' - an intact, unblemished thing. From there came the modern senses 'all, complete, whole, perfect.'

semantic

玉 yù

jade

Bottom 玉 (jade) - drawn here as 王 with the 'jade-dot' compressed into one of the existing strokes (5 standalone strokes condensed to 4 in this position, a mild contraction within tolerance). Jade was the supreme intact treasure; under the entry-lid above it gives the picture of 'a flawless jade kept whole.' Reinforces the 'complete, perfect' core of 全.