Japanese kanji 全: the whole

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 全部（ぜんぶ） and 安全（あんぜん）. 全 has 6 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• その本ほんを全部ぜんぶ読よみました。I read all of that book.
• 全部ぜんぶで十個じゅっこあります。There are ten items altogether.
• 安全あんぜんな道みちを歩あるきます。I walk along a safe road.
• この問題もんだいは安全あんぜんに関係かんけいしています。This issue concerns safety.
• 計画けいかくの全体ぜんたいを見みてから決きめます。I will decide after looking at the whole plan.
• 町まち全体ぜんたいが明あかるくなりました。The whole town became brighter.

Watch out

全部 means the whole amount; 安全 means safety, not “all”. Compare the components: 全：人＋王／会：人＋云。

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 全部 in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   ぜんぶ

   全部 is read ぜんぶ; it means all; the whole amount. Learn the reading as part of this word.

2. Write the reading of 安全 in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   あんぜん

   安全 is read あんぜん; it means safety; safe. Learn the reading as part of this word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿体（ぜんたい）.

   Show answer or example answer

   全

   全 completes 全体, read ぜんたい; the word means the whole; entirety.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 全 from memory, and read 全部 and 安全 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.