cyun4全
Jyutpingcyun4
Yalechyùhn
Definition
Complete, whole, entire, or all; including every part without omission.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
While 全 functions as a quantifier for completeness, it is frequently replaced by 成 in spoken Cantonese when referring to time or duration, such as 成日 for all day or 成晚 for all night. Using 全 in these contexts can sound slightly more formal or emphatic. It is most natural when combined with nouns to denote an entire scope, like 全世界 or 全香港.
Examples
He stays at home all day and hasn't gone out at all.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 全 as a direct substitute for all in every context, as it often requires a noun to follow it. Learners sometimes incorrectly place it before verbs where 晒 is more appropriate for indicating that an action is completed by everyone or everything.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
