Usage of 一共
The word 一共 (yī gòng) is used to express the total amount or sum of something, often in counting people, money, items, or events. It emphasizes the combined quantity or entirety.
Common contexts
一共 is frequently used in daily conversations when summarizing numbers, such as total participants, total cost, or total items. It usually appears before verbs like 有 (have), 花 (spend), 买 (buy), or 讨论 (discuss).
Position in sentence
Typically, 一共 is placed before the verb or the number phrase it modifies, e.g., 一共有五个人 (altogether have five people). It can also appear before the verb phrase to highlight the total action.
Collocations and patterns
- 一共有 + number + noun: to state total count (e.g., 一共有五个人)
- 一共 + verb + number + measure word + noun: to express total amount spent or bought (e.g., 一共花了三千块钱)
- 一共 + verb + number + noun: to indicate total discussed or done (e.g., 一共讨论了三个方案)
Nuance and register
一共 is neutral and commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin. It is straightforward and does not carry formal or informal connotations.
Common confusion
Do not confuse 一共 with 总共 (zǒng gòng), which is very similar but 总共 can sometimes sound slightly more formal. Both are interchangeable in most cases, but 一共 is more common in everyday speech.