Translation guide
The English word "all" has several distinct uses that map to different Japanese expressions. This guide covers the most common patterns: expressing totality, "everything," "everyone," "the whole," and adverbial "completely."
Expressing "all" as a quantifier before a noun, meaning the entire set of something.
The most direct and common way to say "all (of the) N." Used in both spoken and written Japanese.
全ての学生が試験に合格した。
All (of) the students passed the exam.
全ての問題に答えてください。
Please answer all the questions.
More casual than 全ての. Often used for concrete, countable items.
全部のケーキを食べたの？
Did you eat all the cakes?
Means "every possible" or "all kinds of." Emphasizes variety rather than totality.
あらゆる手段を試した。
We tried every possible means.
Referring to all things in a general sense, without a following noun.
The standard word for "everything." Can be used in most contexts.
Referring to all people in a group.
Expressing "all" as in "the entire duration" or "the whole area."
Attach 中 (じゅう) to a time or place noun to mean "all through" or "all over."
一日中雨が降っていた。
It rained all day.
世界中を旅したい。
I want to travel all over the world.
Using "all" to intensify an adjective or verb, like "all alone" or "all wet."
Means "completely" or "entirely." Often used when a state has fully changed.
すっかり忘れていた。
I completely forgot.
外はすっかり暗くなった。
It's gotten completely dark outside.
Using "all" after a pronoun like "we all" or "they all."
Japanese often omits the equivalent of "all" when the context makes it clear. If needed, add みんな or 全員 after the pronoun or topic.
私たちはみんな学生です。
We are all students.
彼らは全員遅刻した。
They all arrived late.
全て (subete) is slightly more formal and abstract; 全部 (zenbu) is more concrete and casual. In many situations they are interchangeable, but 全部 is preferred for countable items and everyday speech.
冷蔵庫の中のものを全部食べた。
I ate everything in the fridge.
全ては運命だ。
Everything is fate.
While 全部の is correct, 全ての is more common in writing. In casual speech, you can often just use 全部 without の before the noun (e.g., 全部ケーキ食べた).
The suffix 中 (じゅう) is very productive: 一年中 (all year), 家中 (all over the house), 学校中 (all over the school). It attaches directly to nouns.
必要なのは愛だけ。
All you need is love.
Here 'all' is rendered with だけ (only/just), a common pattern for 'all you need is...'
全てうまくいった。
Everything went well.
お金が全てじゃない。
Money isn't everything.
More casual than 全て. Often implies "the whole lot" or "all of it."
全部終わったよ。
It's all done. / I finished everything.
The most common and friendly word for "everyone." Used in casual and polite speech.
みんな、こんにちは！
Hello, everyone!
みんな賛成してくれた。
Everyone agreed.
Polite form of みんな. Suitable for formal situations or addressing a group respectfully.
皆さん、お集まりいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you all for gathering here.
Literally "all members." Used when emphasizing every single person in a defined group.
クラスの全員が参加した。
The whole class participated.
Means "the whole of" or "entire." Often used with places or organizations.
町全体が祭りに参加した。
The whole town took part in the festival.
Stronger, often with negative connotations or for emphasis. "Absolutely" or "totally."
まったく同感だ。
I completely agree.
まったく知らなかった。
I had absolutely no idea.
Can be used adverbially in casual speech to mean "all" or "completely."
宿題、全部終わった？
Did you finish all your homework?