Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 全て | subete | [sɨbe̞te̞] (narrow) |
| 全部 | zenbu | [d͡zẽ̞mbɯ̟] (narrow) |
| どれも | doremo |
The phrase refers to all the things.
Which one should you use?
全て is used to refer to an entirety or an abstract concept. 全部 is used for the completeness of a set, referring to all the things or all of something in a collection, whether the items are countable or uncountable. どれも is used specifically when choosing from a set of options, meaning 'every one of them' in either a positive or negative sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
By adding the particle で to 全部, you create the phrase 全部で, which means 'in total' or 'altogether' when counting things.
How do you pronounce it?
subete
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use どれも to mean 'everything' in a general sense. You should only use どれも when referring to 'every one' of a specific group of items that has been previously mentioned or implied.
Did you know?
- The word 全て shares a root with the verb 統べる, which means 'to rule' or 'to govern'. This implies that 'everything' is not just a collection, but a single unified whole under control.
- In Japanese, if you want to say 'everything' in a way that emphasizes that 'not even one thing is excluded', you might use 何から何まで, which literally translates to 'from what to what'.
- Using 全部 can sometimes sound blunt or childish depending on the context. In highly formal business settings, speakers often prefer phrases like 全て or more complex expressions to avoid sounding too direct.
Examples in context
- それで全部？Is that everything?This sentence is useful for asking if a set of items is complete using 全部.Tatoeba #3507409 by arnab, translation #2248483 by CK
- 全部読んだよ。I read everything.This sentence uses 全部 to show that a whole amount of something was read.Tatoeba #10129855 by small_snow, translation #8471352 by shekitten
- 全部聞いたよ。I heard everything.This sentence uses 全部 to indicate that everything was heard.Tatoeba #12167975 by small_snow, translation #1920825 by Spamster
- 171 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are discussing a project at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui健太君、準備は全て終わった？Kenta-kun, junbi wa subete owatta?Kenta, is all the preparation finished?
- 健太 Kentaうん、全て準備できているよ。Un, subete junbi dekite iru yo.Yeah, everything is ready.
- 結衣 Yuiそれは良かった。本当にすごいね。Sore wa yokatta. Hontou ni sugoi ne.That's good. You're really amazing.
- 健太 Kenta結衣さんの助けがあったからだよ。Yui-san no tasuke ga atta kara da yo.It's because of your help, Yui.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “everything” translations and entries 全て, 全部, どれも, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 全て, 全部, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
