Meaning and Usage
"全て" (すべて) means "all," "everything," or "entirely." It is used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of something without exception. It can function as a noun or an adverb depending on context.
Common Contexts
You will often see "全て" used to emphasize completeness, such as "全ての人" (all people) or "全て終わった" (everything is finished). It is common in both formal and informal speech but tends to sound more neutral or formal compared to casual alternatives like "みんな" or "全部."
Collocations and Patterns
- 全ての + noun: means "all of [noun]" (e.g., 全ての問題 - all problems)
- 全てが + verb: emphasizes that everything does the action (e.g., 全てがうまくいく - everything goes well)
- 全てを + verb: indicates the object "everything" is acted upon (e.g., 全てを理解する - understand everything)
Nuances and Tips
"全て" is often interchangeable with "全部," but "全て" can sound slightly more formal or literary. Avoid confusing "全て" with "すべてにおいて," which means "in all respects" or "in every aspect." Also, "全て" can be used abstractly, not just for countable items.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes omit particles after "全て," but it usually requires a particle like "の," "が," or "を" to connect properly to the rest of the sentence.