• whole, complete, entire;

Etymology

Originally a compound ideograph:

玉 (jade) symbolized purity and preciousness;

入 (enter) over it suggested covering, enclosing, or preserving something valuable.

In early usage, 全 referred to pure, unblemished jade. Over time, the meaning broadened to “intact,” “whole,” and then “entire.”

Usage in Korean

全國 (전국) – nationwide;

安全 (안전) – safety, security;

全力 (전력) – all one’s strength.

Alternative forms

Note that in Japan, Mainland China and Vietnam, the top of the character is 人, while in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea, the top is 入, which is the historical form found in the Kangxi Dictionary.

온전할
onjeonhal
jeon
Kangxi radical:11, + 4
Strokes:6
Unicode:U+5168
Cangjie input:
  • 人一土 (OMG)
Composition:
  • ⿱ 人 王 (G J V)
  • ⿱ 入 王 (H T K)
Writing order
全 Writing order

Characters next to each other in the list

References