全

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.”

全 originally meant to keep something intact and unharmed, especially:

- preserving an object without loss;

- maintaining completeness.

From this sense of intactness, the quantitative meaning “all; entire” developed naturally.

Meanings expanded from qualitative to quantitative:

- intact / complete — without damage or loss;

- whole — comprising all parts;

- totality — everyone; everything;

- preservation — keeping something whole (verbal sense).

Thus, 全 connects state (wholeness) and scope (totality).

In Korean compounds, 全 often marks scope or completeness rather than action.

Completeness:

완전 (完全) — complete; perfect

온전 (穩全) — intact; sound

安全 (안전) — safety, security

Totality:

전부 (全部) — all; entirety

전원 (全員) — everyone; all members

전국 (全國) — the whole country; nationwide

Preservation:

보전 (保全) — preservation; conservation

전신 (全身) — whole body

全力 (전력) — all one’s strength

全 emphasizes wholeness without loss, not perfection by refinement.

Often contrasted with:

缺 — lack; deficiency

破 — broken

Pairs naturally with 完, which emphasizes finishing, whereas 全 emphasizes intactness.

Related characters:

完 — finish; complete

具 — possess fully

總 — total; overall

保 — preserve

缺 — lack

Among these, 全 most strongly encodes being whole without damage, rather than completion of a process.

Classical / literary usage:

全其性命 — “To preserve one’s life intact”

求全責備 — “To demand absolute perfection” (idiom)

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.