() — completely, entirely; all (literary)

Definition

Literary adverb meaning 'all, entirely' (万事俱备 'everything is ready'). Use only in writing; in speech prefer 都.

adverb
completelyentirelyall (literary)

Examples

  • Zhòng rén jū zhì, huì yì kāi shǐ.
    Everyone has all arrived, so the meeting begins.
  • Dēng huǒ jū miè, gāi huí jiā le.
    The lights are all out; we should go home.
  • Rèn wu jū yǐ wán chéng, kě yǐ xiū xi le.
    The tasks are all completed; we can rest now.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
Written in full asrén
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

俱 pairs 亻, a form of 人 (person), with 具 as the sound part.

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