全体 quántǐ all
all; entire
How to remember 全体: 全 whole + 体 body = all.
Characters
How it is used
- All members / the entire body of people - 全体员工 (quántǐ yuángōng) all staff; 全体起立 (quántǐ qǐlì) everyone stand up.
- Specifically the whole group of persons in an organization.
- Contrast 全部 (quánbù, all of / entirety, for things) - 全体 is for people as a collective, 全部 for quantities/objects.
Example sentences
- 在全体职员回家后，火事爆发了。 Zài quántǐ zhíyuán huíjiā hòu, huǒ shì bàofā le.The fire broke out after the staff went home.
- 全体销售人员通宵达旦地工作了一周。 Quántǐ xiāoshòu rényuán tōngxiāodádàn de gōngzuò le yīzhōu.The entire sales staff has worked around the clock for a week.