About
The character 皆 combines 比, a pair of people side by side in coordinated motion, with 白. This 白 is not the ordinary 'white' but a variant of 曰 ('to speak'), derived from a pictograph of a mouth. In ancient inscriptions, the character directly showed two figures and a speaking mouth, plainly illustrating people moving and speaking together. The image evokes a group acting and expressing themselves with one voice, leading to the abstract meaning 'all' or 'everyone.' Today, 皆 functions as a pronoun or adverb that comprehensively includes every member of a group, stressing complete, exceptionless totality and ruling out any excluded individuals.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他们皆是学生。
这些水果皆新鲜。
我们皆很快乐。
昨天买的书皆有趣。
他们皆不参加会议。
无论春夏秋冬，皆美丽。
所有项目皆已结束。
在调查中，各方意见皆被考虑。
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