Meaning and Usage
"全部" (ぜんぶ) means "all," "entire," or "whole." It is used to refer to the totality of something, whether objects, tasks, or parts of a whole. It is a very common word at the N5 level and appears frequently in daily conversation.
Common Contexts
You can use "全部" when talking about eating all food, completing all tasks, or counting the total number of items. It often appears with verbs like 食べる (to eat), 終わる (to finish), or in expressions indicating quantity.
Collocations and Patterns
- 全部 + verb (e.g., 全部食べる): to do something to all items
- 全部で + number + counter (e.g., 全部で五つ): indicating the total number
- 宿題を全部終わらせる: to finish all homework
Nuances and Tips
"全部" emphasizes completeness and totality. It is more casual and common than more formal words like "全て" (すべて). Be careful not to confuse "全部" with "全部の" which modifies nouns, but "全部" alone often functions as a noun or adverb.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes omit particles after "全部." Remember that when "全部" is the object, it usually takes the particle を before the verb (e.g., 宿題を全部終わらせる).