全部
zenbu[d͡zẽ̞mbɯ̟]
The English phrase "all of them" is translated into Japanese as 全部 (zenbu).
全部 is used to refer to every single part or item in a group. It can function as a noun, an adverb or an adjective. When used adverbially, it often means "entirely" or "completely". It can be used in casual conversations to mean "all of them".
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 全 (zen), meaning "all" or "whole" and 部 (bu), meaning "part" or "section".
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on what you are referring to. Use 全部 for inanimate objects or general quantities. However, if you are referring to "all of them" in the context of a group of people, use 全員 (zen'in) instead. For groups of people, the term minna can also be used to express the idea of "all of them".
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 全部 as an adjective to modify a noun directly, such as saying "all the books", you must add the particle の (no) after it to form 全部の.
How do you pronounce it?
zenbu
Did you know?
- While 全部 refers to the whole of a thing, the word 全員 specifically counts heads. Using 全部 to refer to a group of people can sound as if you are treating them like inanimate objects.
- The kanji 部 in 全部 means 'part' or 'section'. This creates a conceptual irony where the word for 'all' is literally constructed from the word for 'part'.
- The term 全部 was borrowed from Middle Chinese.
Examples in context
- 全部読んだの？Did you read all of them?This sentence uses 全部 to ask if everything was read.Tatoeba #11768095 by bunbuku, translation #12369194 by CK
- 全部なくなってしまっていた。All of them were gone.This sentence uses 全部 to indicate that everything was gone.Tatoeba #3474655 by arnab, translation #306064 by CK
- Watashi wa zenbu o kaimashita. (私は全部を買いました。)I bought all of them.
- Bokura wa zenbu tabemashita. (僕らは全部食べました。)We ate all of them.
- Mina ga zenbu wakatta. (みんなが全部分かった。)Everyone understood all of them.
- 全部食べてもいいですか？Zenbu tabete mo ii desu ka?Is it okay if I eat all of them?
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are looking at a box of delicious cookies on the table.
- 蓮 Renこれ、全部食べていいの？Kore, zenbu tabete ii no?Can I eat all of them?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、蓮君なら大丈夫だよ。Un, Ren-kun nara daijoubu da yo.Yes, it's okay if it's you, Ren.
- 蓮 Renわあ、やった！Waa, yatta!Wow, yay!
- 美咲 Misaki遠慮しないでね。Enryo shinai de ne.Don't hold back.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 全部, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 全部, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
