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.

Using 全 before a 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.

Examples

我们全家都去过北京。Wǒmen quán jiā dōu qù guo Běijīng.Our entire family have been to Beijing.
全国人民都知道这个新闻。Quán guó rénmín dōu zhīdào zhège xīnwén.People in the whole country know about this news.
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.
全校的学生都放假了。 Quán xiào de xuéshēng dōu fàngjià le.Students in the whole school are on holiday.
你明天全天都在吗？Nǐ míngtiān quán tiān dōu zài ma?Are you going to be here the whole day tomorrow?
这个地方全年都很热。Zhège dìfang quán nián dōu hěn rè.It's hot here the whole year.

Using 全都 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

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."

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.
他说的话全都不要相信。Tā shuō de huà quán dōu bùyào xiāngxìn.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."

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.

Using 全 before a Noun

Structure

Examples

Using 全都 before a Verb

Affirmative Pattern

Structure

Examples

Negative Pattern: Total Negation

Structure

Examples

Negative Pattern: Partial Negation

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books