HSK Level 3

全面

quán miàn

all-round; entire; comprehensive;

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Example Sentences

全面发展

quánmiàn fāzhǎn

all-round development

全面改革

quánmiàn gǎigé

comprehensive reform

全面战争

quánmiàn zhànzhēng

total war

Synonyms

Antonyms

局部 (jù bù)

partial

片面 (piàn miàn)

one-sided

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 全面 (quánmiàn) is composed of two characters: 全 (quán), meaning "whole" or "complete," and 面 (miàn), meaning "side" or "aspect." Together, these characters form a compound word that means "comprehensive" or "all-encompassing."The word 全面 has been used in Chinese for centuries, and it has a rich history of usage. In ancient Chinese texts, it was often used to describe something that was complete or perfect. For example, the philosopher Confucius used the word 全面 to describe the ideal person, who was said to be "complete in virtue."In modern Chinese, 全面 is still used to describe something that is comprehensive or all-encompassing. It is often used in a positive sense, to describe something that is thorough or well-rounded. For example, a student who gets good grades in all of their subjects might be described as a 全面学生 (quánmiàn xuésheng), or "a well-rounded student."The word 全面 can also be used in a negative sense, to describe something that is too comprehensive or all-encompassing. For example, a person who tries to do too many things at once might be described as a 全面的人 (quánmiàn de rén), or "a person who tries to do everything."Overall, the word 全面 is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is a useful word to know for HSK learners, as it is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.