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.
All (of) the students passed the exam.
Please answer all the questions.
More casual than 全ての. Often used for concrete, countable items.
Did you eat all the cakes?
Means "every possible" or "all kinds of." Emphasizes variety rather than totality.
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."
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.
I completely forgot.
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.
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.
All you need is love.
Here 'all' is rendered with だけ (only/just), a common pattern for 'all you need is...'
Everything went well.
Money isn't everything.
More casual than 全て. Often implies "the whole lot" or "all of it."
It's all done. / I finished everything.
Hello, everyone!
Everyone agreed.
Polite form of みんな. Suitable for formal situations or addressing a group respectfully.
Thank you all for gathering here.
Literally "all members." Used when emphasizing every single person in a defined group.
The whole class participated.
It rained all day.
I want to travel all over the world.
Means "the whole of" or "entire." Often used with places or organizations.
The whole town took part in the festival.
It's gotten completely dark outside.
Stronger, often with negative connotations or for emphasis. "Absolutely" or "totally."
I completely agree.
I had absolutely no idea.
Can be used adverbially in casual speech to mean "all" or "completely."
Did you finish all your homework?
We are all students.
They all arrived late.
I ate everything in the fridge.
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.
That's all for today.
A set phrase; literally 'up to here for today.'