Is there a difference between 凡事 and 所有？

Question

Recently, I've been reading a bit of 鲁迅 and I've run into the word 凡事 a number of times. Everytime, I see it translated it seems to mean 所有。 It seems to me that 凡事 is either an older usage or is much more formal - is that correct? As well, are there any ways in which they are used differently Ex. Could I say "凡事（的）学生都很乖“？

Answer 1

凡事：n.everything, all things. 凡事有利有弊。

所有：1,n.possession. 为买房，我倾其所有。

2, adj.all. 我认识这里所有的人。

3,v.own. 这本书归我所有。

Regarding your question, I estimate that your confusion is from 凡事---所有2. They are the same conception about ALL, but Parts of Speech.

Therefore, your sentence could be also: 所有（的）事情都要小心。= 凡事都要小心。

The other sentence 凡事（的）学生都很乖。should be 所有的学生都很乖。Here you need an adjective before 学生. instead of 凡事 which is a noun, means all things.

Answer 2

凡事 means everything, or no matter what it is. e.g. 凡事都要小心。 Be careful with everything.

所有 means all, usually you need a noun after it. e.g. 所有事情都要小心。Be careful with everything.