TongTong
Sign in

一概而论 (yī gài ér lùn) — to treat different matters alike; to lump everything together (usually used in negative constructions)

Definition

A formal idiom meaning 'to lump different things together as if they were the same.' Almost always used in negation (不能／不可∼, 'cannot be generalized').

phrase
to treat different matters aliketo lump everything together (usually used in negative constructions)

Examples

  • ，一概而论。
    Měi gè rén de qíng kuàng bù tóng, bù néng yī gài ér lùn.
    Everyone's situation is different, so you can't treat them all the same.
  • ，一概而论。
    Zhè liǎng gè wèn tí xìng zhì bù tóng, bù kě yī gài ér lùn.
    These two problems are of a different nature — they cannot be lumped together.
  • ，，一概而论。
    Duì yú fù zá de xiàn xiàng, yào jù tǐ fēn xī, ér bú shì yī gài ér lùn.
    For complex phenomena, we need to analyze them specifically rather than treating them all the same.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

一概without exception
一yīwhole概gàigeneral
偏正Modifier + head
而论and discuss
而érand论lùndiscuss
偏正Modifier + head

'一概' means without exception and '论' means discuss; '而' links them, so everything is discussed together.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
既
既jì概gài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

概 pairs 木 (wood) with 既 as its sound part; the character meant a strickle.

Open 概 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 論; 论 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún論lùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 論 pairs 言 (“say”) with 侖 as a sound component; the simplified 论 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 论 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.