整个 vs 全 (zhěnggè vs quán): the whole vs entire/all
Both 整个 and 全 can mean 'whole' or 'entire,' but they are used differently. 整个 is an attributive adjective modifying a noun to mean 'the entire X,' while 全 is primarily an adverb meaning 'completely' or 'all,' often placed before verbs or nouns to emphasize totality. Understanding their distinct syntactic roles is key to correct usage.
The core distinction is syntactic: 整个 functions as a determiner that directly modifies a specific noun (e.g., 'the whole building'), while 全 acts as an adverb before verbs or adjectives (e.g., 'completely forget') or as a modifier before nouns expressing a general totality (e.g., 'the whole world'). 整个 always requires a concrete, countable unit and cannot stand alone as an adverb; 全, when modifying nouns, often implies all members or aspects of a collective, and it can be used as an adverb without a noun. Misplacing them leads to ungrammatical or unnatural sentences.
When to use each
Use 整个 when you want to refer to the entirety of a specific, complete object or unit, such as a day, a city, or a person's life. It is always placed directly before a noun (e.g., 整个星期 'the whole week') and cannot be used as an adverb. It often emphasizes that nothing is missing from that particular entity.
整个 usually requires the noun to be a countable, bounded unit; for uncountable or abstract concepts, 全 may be preferred (e.g., 全世界的 'worldwide' not 整个世界的).
Use 全 as an adverb meaning 'completely' or 'totally' before verbs or adjectives (e.g., 全忘了 'completely forgot'), or as a pre-noun modifier meaning 'all of' for general categories (e.g., 全国人民 'the whole nation's people' or 全世界 'the whole world'). When modifying a noun, 全 often combines with a classifier or collective word and implies a global scope.
全 can also appear in fixed expressions like 全部 (all, entire) or 完全 (completely). Unlike 整个, 全 can be used with abstract nouns and does not require the noun to be a single bounded unit.
At a glance
| 整个 | 全 | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | Attributive adjective (determiner) | Adverb or pre-noun modifier |
| Position in sentence | Directly before a noun (e.g., 整个家) | Before a verb/adjective (e.g., 全知道) or before a noun (e.g., 全城) |
| Meaning nuance | The entirety of one specific, bounded unit | Completely/all aspects or members, often collective |
| Use with verbs | Cannot modify verbs | Can modify verbs to mean 'completely' (e.g., 全做完了) |
| Example phrase | 整个下午 (the whole afternoon) | 全世界 (the whole world) |
Examples
- 整个整个下午我都在看书。Zhěnggè xiàwǔ wǒ dōu zài kàn shū.I spent the whole afternoon reading.整个 emphasizes the entire afternoon as a single unit.
- 全我把作业全做完了。Wǒ bǎ zuòyè quán zuò wán le.I completely finished my homework.全 here is an adverb meaning 'completely'.
- 全全国人民都支持这个政策。Quánguó rénmín dōu zhīchí zhège zhèngcè.People all over the country support this policy.全 modifies 全国 'the whole country,' implying every region.
- 整个整个城市都停电了。Zhěnggè chéngshì dōu tíng diàn le.The whole city had a power outage.整个 refers to that specific city in its entirety.
- 全我全忘记了。Wǒ quán wàngjì le.I completely forgot (it all).✗ '我整个忘记了' would be wrong; 全 is the correct adverbial choice.
Common mistakes
- Using 全 as a pre-noun modifier for a specific countable unit where 整个 is needed, e.g., '全下午' instead of '整个下午'.
- Using 整个 as an adverb before a verb, e.g., '整个忘了' should be '全忘了'.
- Confusing 全 with 全部: 全 is adverbial, while 全部 is a noun or adverb meaning 'all' and can be used as a subject/object (e.g., 全部完成 is fine, but 全完成 is also possible).
- Assuming 整个 can modify abstract or collective nouns: '整个世界' is acceptable but '整个人民' sounds odd; use '全国人民' instead.
- Omitting a measure word when using 整个 with a noun that requires one: '整本书' (the whole book) is correct, not '整书'.
FAQ
- When do I use 整个 vs 全?
- Use 整个 to describe a specific, bounded entity in its entirety (e.g., 'the whole house'). Use 全 as an adverb meaning 'completely' (before verbs) or as a modifier for general collectives (e.g., 'all of China'). They are not interchangeable in most contexts.
- Can 全 be used as an adjective like 'whole'?
- Yes, 全 can act as a pre-noun modifier but usually with collective or abstract nouns (e.g., 全世界 'the whole world', 全人类 'all mankind'). For concrete single objects, 整个 is preferred.
- Is '完全' the same as '全'?
- Not exactly. 完全 (wánquán) is a synonym meaning 'completely' and is also an adverb, but it is stronger and more formal. 全 is shorter and more colloquial. Both can be used as adverbs, but 完全 cannot precede a noun like 全 can (e.g., 完全正确 vs 全正确, but not 完全国 for 'whole country').
- Can I say '整个都错了'?
- No, '整个都错了' is unnatural. Use '全都错了' (all are wrong) or '完全错了' (completely wrong). 整个 cannot modify a verb or an adjective.