总之

zǒng zhī

in a word

HSK 5

Character Breakdown

Usage of 总之

总之 is a common Chinese adverb used to summarize or conclude what has been said before. It functions similarly to English phrases like "in a word," "in short," or "to sum up." It often appears at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a conclusion or a summary statement.

Pragmatic effect

When speakers use 总之, they signal that they are wrapping up their thoughts or emphasizing the main point. It helps listeners understand that what follows is the key takeaway.

Common collocations and patterns

  • 总之 + clause: introduces a summary or conclusion.
  • 总之 + clause: emphasizes the main point or gist.

Register and tone

总之 is neutral and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is frequently used in spoken and written Chinese.

Common confusion

总之 should not be confused with 终于 (finally) or 总是 (always). 总之 focuses on summarizing or concluding, not on time or frequency.

Example Sentences

总之,我们需要尽快完成这个项目。

Zǒng zhī, wǒmen xūyào jǐnkuài wánchéng zhège xiàngmù.

In a word, we need to finish this project as soon as possible.

他的话很复杂,总之就是不同意我们的计划。

Tā de huà hěn fùzá, zǒng zhī jiùshì bù tóngyì wǒmen de jìhuà.

His words were complicated; in short, he disagrees with our plan.

总之,安全第一,其他的事情以后再说。

Zǒng zhī, ānquán dì yī, qítā de shìqíng yǐhòu zài shuō.

In short, safety comes first; other matters can be discussed later.