Meaning
所有 means 'all' or 'every' when used before a noun, indicating the entirety of something without exception. It can also function as a noun meaning 'possession' or 'ownership' in more formal contexts, though this usage is less common in everyday speech.
Usage
Native speakers use 所有 before nouns to emphasize completeness or totality, similar to 'all the' in English. It's more formal than 都 (dōu) and often appears in written language, announcements, and official contexts. Commonly pairs with 的 (de) when followed by a noun: 所有的人 (all the people).
Examples
- 01所有的学生都通过了考试。.All the students passed the exam.
- 02这是我所有的钱了。.This is all the money I have.
Characters
Common collocations
- 所有人everyone, all people
- 所有的all the...
- 所有权ownership rights
- 所有东西everything, all things
Origin
Literally combines 所 (that which) and 有 (to have/possess), creating the meaning 'that which is possessed' or 'everything that exists/is had.' The grammaticalized meaning of 'all' developed from this possessive sense.