adjective / adverb HSK 4
incomplete · not completely · not entirely · imperfect
Meaning
不完全 combines the negation 不 with 完全 (complete/completely) to express something that is partial, incomplete, or not entirely the case. It can function as an adjective describing an incomplete state or as an adverb modifying verbs to mean 'not completely' or 'not entirely'.
Usage
This term is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, often in formal or analytical contexts. As an adverb, it softens absolute statements, similar to 'not entirely' or 'not completely' in English. It frequently appears in academic, technical, or nuanced discussions where precision is important.
Examples
- 01这份报告的数据不完全，我们需要补充更多信息。, .The data in this report is incomplete; we need to supplement it with more information.
- 02我不完全同意你的观点，但我理解你的想法。, .I don't entirely agree with your viewpoint, but I understand your thinking.
Characters
Common collocations
- 不完全统计incomplete statistics
- 不完全正确not entirely correct
- 不完全相同not completely the same
Antonyms
Origin
Formed by adding the negative prefix 不 to the adjective 完全 (complete/whole), creating a straightforward negation that has become a standard expression in modern Chinese.