Translation and Meaning of: 全 - zen

The Japanese word 全[ぜん] is a fundamental term for those learning the language or interested in Japanese culture. With a meaning that encompasses ideas of totality and completeness, it appears in various contexts, from everyday conversations to more formal expressions. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and practical uses, as well as tips for easily memorizing it.

If you've ever wondered how the Japanese express concepts like "everything" or "entire," understanding 全[ぜん] is essential. This word is not only useful in everyday vocabulary but also plays an important role in compound expressions and even in the names of establishments. Let's dive into details that will help students and curious individuals master its correct usage.

Meaning and use of 全[ぜん]

The kanji 全, read as ぜん (zen), carries the meaning of "all," "complete," or "whole." It is frequently used as a prefix or part of compound words, expanding its meaning according to the context. For example, 全国 (zenkoku) means "the whole country," while 全力 (zenryoku) means "with all one's strength."

Additionally, 全 can appear alone in phrases like 全部 (zenbu), which means "everything" or "totality." This versatility makes it an extremely useful word in everyday life. Its use is so common that a Japanese language student will hardly spend much time without encountering it in texts or conversations.

Origin and writing of the kanji 全

The kanji 全 is composed of the radicals 人 (person) and 王 (king), suggesting the idea of "something complete under someone's domain." This combination reflects well its current meaning, which revolves around totality and integrity. The way it is written also follows the traditional stroke order, starting with the upper radical and ending with the lower components.

It is worth noting that 全 does not have kun'yomi readings (native Japanese), being always read as ぜん (zen) in its combinations. This makes memorization easier, as the student does not have to worry about contextual variations in pronunciation, as is the case with other more complex kanji.

Tips for memorizing and using 全[ぜん]

An effective way to solidify the meaning of 全 is to associate it with common compound words. Expressions like 全然 (zenzen - "not at all") or 安全 (anzen - "safety") help reinforce its use in different situations. Repeating these words in everyday sentences can also speed up learning.

Another tip is to pay attention to advertisements and signs in Japan, where 全 often appears in terms like 全席 (all seats) or 全品 (all items). This constant visual contact with the word in real contexts helps to internalize its meaning in a natural and lasting way.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• すべて (subete) - Everything; totality.
• 全体 (zentai) - The whole; totality, in a broader context.
• 全部 (zenbu) - Everything; totality, with an emphasis on individual parts that make up the whole.
• 総 (sou) - Total; general, used in more formal contexts.
• 全般 (zenpan) - General; comprehensive, referring to an entire category or field.
• 全員 (zen'in) - All members; the entire team.

全

Romaji: zen
Kana: ぜん
Type: noun
L: -

Translation / Meaning: all; whole; complete; complete; general; pan

Meaning in English: all;whole;entire;complete;overall;pan

Definition: "Zen" is a prefix or suffix that refers to all things, intervals, and the whole.

Example Sentences - (全) zen

See below some example sentences:

この本は「全集」というタイトルです。

Kono hon wa "zenshu" to iu taitoru desu

• この本 - This book
• は - is
• 「全集」 - "Complete collection"
• という - called from
• タイトル - title
• です - is

全ての人に平等な機会を与えるべきだ。

Subete no hito ni byoudou na kikai wo ataeru beki da

Everyone must have equal opportunities.

You must give everyone an equal opportunity.

• 全ての人に - All individuals
• 平等な - equality
• 機会を - Opportunities
• 与える - It must be given
• べきだ - It must be done

全ては繋がっている。

Subete wa tsunagatte iru

Everything is connected.

• 全て (substantivo) - means "everything" or "everyone"
• は (partícula) - indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "everything"
• 繋がっている (verbo) - means "to be connected" or "to be connected"

全員集合！

Zen'in shūgō!

They all meet!

All members!

• 全員 - It means "everyone" in Japanese.
• 集合 - means "gather" or "join" in Japanese.
• ! - is an exclamation mark used to emphasize the sentence.

全力で頑張ります。

Zenryoku de ganbarimasu

I will do my best.

I will do my best with all my strength.

• 全力で - zennryoku de - with all power/strength
• 頑張ります - ganbarimasu - I'll make an effort

全然わかりません。

Zenzen wakarimasen

I do not understand anything.

I do not know anything.

• 全然 - zenzen - completely/nothing
• わかりません - wakarimasen - I don't understand I don't understand

全国には美しい景色がたくさんあります。

Zenkoku ni wa utsukushii keshiki ga takusan arimasu

There are many beautiful landscapes across the country.

• 全国 - it means "the whole country"
• には - it is a particle that indicates the existence of something in a specific place, in this case, "throughout the country"
• 美しい - It means "beautiful"
• 景色 - means "landscape" or "view"
• が - it is a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "landscape"
• たくさん - It means "many" or "much"
• あります - It is a verb that means "to exist" or "to have"

国防は国家の安全を守るために重要です。

Kokubō wa kokka no anzen o mamoru tame ni jūyō desu

Defense is important to protect national security.

• 国防 - national defense
• 国家 - Estado, nação
• 安全 - security
• 守る - protect, guard
• 重要 - important

国連は世界平和と安全を促進するための重要な組織です。

Kokuren wa sekai heiwa to anzen o sokushin suru tame no juuyou na soshiki desu

The United Nations is an important organization for promoting world peace and security.

• 国連 (Kokuren) - 国際連合 (こくさいれんごう)
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 世界 (sekai) - world
• 平和 (heiwa) - peace
• と (to) - grammatical particle that connects words or phrases with the same meaning
• 安全 (anzen) - security
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 促進する (sokushin suru) - promote, encourage
• ための (tame no) - expression indicating the purpose of something
• 重要な (juuyou na) - important
• 組織 (soshiki) - organization
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

彼は敵を潰すために全力を尽くした。

Kare wa teki o tsubusu tame ni zenryoku o tsukushita

He gave it all of himself to crush the enemy.

He did his best to crush the enemy.

• 彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
• は - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 敵 - Japanese noun that means "enemy"
• を - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate the direct object of the sentence
• 潰す - Japanese verb that means "to crush" or "to destroy."
• ために - Japanese expression that means "for" or "in order to"
• 全力を尽くした - Japanese expression that means "did your best" or "did everything you could"