全体

ぜんたい
JLPT:N3
Frequency:
1

A noun meaning the whole or entirety; refers to the whole as a single unit rather than individual parts (used as in 'as a whole' or 'the whole of ~').

NounNoun Taking 'の'Adverb

Examples

会社全体で売上が伸びた。

Sales increased across the whole company.

全体の構造を理解する必要がある。

You need to understand the overall structure.

その問題は全体の一部に過ぎない。

That problem is only part of the whole.

2

Used adverbially to mean 'as a whole' or 'in the first place' (phrases like '全体として' are common).

Adverb

Examples

全体として見れば、計画は成功だ。

Viewed as a whole, the plan is a success.

全体の流れを把握してから細部に入ろう。

Let's grasp the overall flow before getting into details.

3

Used (often in the phrase '一体全体') to intensify questions or exclamations, meaning 'on earth' / 'in the world' / 'the heck' (e.g. 'what on earth?').

Adverb

Examples

一体全体、彼はどこに行ったんだ?

Where on earth did he go?

一体全体どうしてこんなことに?

How on earth did this happen?

Word Relationships

Antonym