总之
HSK 4- Conjunctions
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
总之 is used to summarize or conclude what has been said previously.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The adverb 总之 (zǒng zhī) means "in short" or "in general." It is used to introduce a conclusion or summary after presenting a series of details, reasons, or different situations. Placing 总之 at the beginning of the final clause signals to the listener that you are about to wrap up the point.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 这家太贵，那家太远，总之我们回家吃吧。繁: 這家太貴，那家太遠，總之我們回家吃吧。Zhè jiā tài guì, nà jiā tài yuǎn, zǒngzhī wǒmen huí jiā chī ba.
This place is too expensive, that place is too far, in any case let's go home and eat.
- 他很聪明又很努力，总之，他是个好学生。繁: 他很聰明又很努力，總之，他是個好學生。Tā hěn cōngmíng yòu hěn nǔlì, zǒngzhī, tā shì ge hǎo xuéshēng.
He is intelligent and hardworking, and in short, he is a good student.
- 不管你说什么，总之我不同意。繁: 不管你說什麼，總之我不同意。Bùguǎn nǐ shuō shénme, zǒngzhī wǒ bù tóngyì.
No matter what you say, in any case I don't agree.
- 路上堵车，天气也不好，总之，今天很倒霉。繁: 路上堵車，天氣也不好，總之，今天很倒霉。Lùshang dǔchē, tiānqì yě bù hǎo, zǒngzhī, jīntiān hěn dǎoméi.
There was traffic on the road, the weather was also bad, in short, today was very unlucky.
- 这件工作有很多问题，总之，不容易。繁: 這件工作有很多問題，總之，不容易。Zhè jiàn gōngzuò yǒu hěn duō wèntí, zǒngzhī, bù róngyì.
This work has many problems; in short, it is not easy.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:总之，他是一个好学生。Correct:他学习努力，也帮助同学，总之，他是一个好学生。
总之 is used to conclude, so preceding details and reasons must be provided; it cannot be used to introduce a new idea.
- Wrong:我喜欢很多运动，总之足球和篮球。Correct:我喜欢很多运动，比如足球和篮球。
总之 is used to summarize, not to list examples; use 比如 (bǐrú) when you want to give examples.