顾全 is a formal, written verb meaning 'to safeguard' or 'to preserve (interests, relationships, or appearances)'. It combines 顾 (gù), meaning 'to attend to' or 'to consider', and 全 (quán), meaning 'whole', 'complete', or 'intact'. Together, they convey the idea of taking care to maintain something whole—especially intangible things like harmony, reputation, face, or collective interests—even at personal cost. The word implies conscious effort and often a sense of responsibility or duty.

It's commonly used in contexts involving compromise, diplomacy, teamwork, or social ethics—for example, when someone suppresses their own opinion to avoid conflict, or when an organization prioritizes long-term stability over short-term gain. While grammatically it functions as a transitive verb, it’s almost always followed by a noun object indicating what is being safeguarded (e.g., 顾全大局 'safeguard the overall situation'). It rarely appears in casual speech but appears frequently in official statements, news reports, and moral instruction.