WORD DETAIL
全部
ぜんぶ
Examples
Included kanji
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
全部is readぜんぶand functions as a noun or adverbial expression meaning all or the entirety of a defined set. - Basic usage: In
本を全部読むand窓を全部開ける, it follows the object and shows that the action covers that object completely.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- All within a defined set
机の上の本を全部means all the books on the desk, not every book in existence. Earlier context defines the set.
- Position of 全部
- The existing examples place it after the object and before the verb. This structure differs from
全部の本を読む, where全部のdirectly modifies the noun.
- The existing examples place it after the object and before the verb. This structure differs from
- 全部 and 全て
全て(すべて)also means “all” and is common in written contexts.全部sounds natural in everyday speech for the whole of a concrete set or range.

