Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
总共(總共)zǒnggòng(zong3gong4)
总共 (zǒnggòng) means 'altogether' or 'in total,' used to indicate the overall amount or sum of something. It is often used in contexts such as discussing total costs, quantities, or time. This phrase conveys completeness and is commonly employed in both spoken and written Chinese.
Strokes15Frequency#6073DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing totals or sums, especially in financial contexts, is crucial during business negotiations and gatherings. The total cost of a meal shared among friends often becomes a topic of discussion, reflecting the value placed on community and sharing.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant totalizer that sums everything up, with the characters 总 (total) and 共 (together) forming a large calculator. The 'zǒng' sounds like 'zone' where everything is gathered, while 'gòng' can remind you of 'gong,' signaling that it's time to ring in the total.
Meanings of 总共
zǒnggòng(zong3gong4)
1altogether
2in sum
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 总共 means.
About 总共
总共Simplified
總共Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
区别词distinguishing word (dist.)Part of Speech
#6073Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 总共
Podcast: 总共
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 总共
Quick Contrast
总计 (zǒngjì) - use 总共 when emphasizing the overall total amount in a general sense, while 总计 is more specific to summarizing calculations or figures.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 总共 with just 总 (zǒng), which means 'total' but does not imply the act of summing things together. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often followed by a quantity. Common collocations include '总共花费' (total expenditure) or '总共人数' (total number of people).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 总共 aligns well with other terms used for calculations, totals, and summaries, such as 费用 (cost) or 数量 (quantity). Students should focus on its use in practical scenarios like budgeting and reporting to reinforce comprehension.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 总共 without a quantity, saying just '总共' and leaving it vague. Instead, specify what the total is referring to, like '总共有五个人' (There are a total of five people).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 总共
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 总共 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 总共 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 总共?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 总共 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
总共 (zǒnggòng) means 'altogether' or 'in total,' used to indicate the overall amount or sum of something. It is often used in contexts such as discussing total costs, quantities, or time. This phrase conveys completeness and is commonly employed in both spoken and written Chinese.
When to use 总共
Be careful not to confuse 总共 with just 总 (zǒng), which means 'total' but does not imply the act of summing things together. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often followed by a quantity. Common collocations include '总共花费' (total expenditure) or '总共人数' (total number of people).
总共 or something close to it
总计 (zǒngjì) - use 总共 when emphasizing the overall total amount in a general sense, while 总计 is more specific to summarizing calculations or figures.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 总共 without a quantity, saying just '总共' and leaving it vague. Instead, specify what the total is referring to, like '总共有五个人' (There are a total of five people).
Write 总共
总
共
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 总共 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 总共
总共 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
全国____只有60个游泳池。
There are only 60 swimming pools in the entire country.
Example Sentences for 总共 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
全国总共只有60个游泳池。
quán guó zǒng gòng zhī yǒu60 60 gè yóu yǒng。
There are only 60 swimming pools in the entire country.
2
翻新和粉刷总共耗时4个月。
fān xīn hé fěn shuā zǒng gòng hào shí4 4 gè。
The renovation process and decoration took four months.
