Definition
总 (zǒng) as an adverb means 'always' — it describes a habitual or repeated action. It also means 'eventually, sooner or later' when used before 会 (huì). It is different from 终于 (zhōngyú), which means 'finally' after a long wait, and from 早晚 (zǎowǎn) / 迟早 (chízǎo), which emphasize inevitability rather than habit.
adverb
alwaysinvariablyeventuallysooner or later
adjective
totaloverall
Easily confused
- 必bìlook-alikecertainly; must; necessarily; will (expressing necessity or certainty)
- 宗zōngsound-alike(classifier) for cases, batches, transactions, medical cases, etc.
- 忌jìlook-aliketo be jealous of
Examples
- 总。Tā zǒng zài kàn shū.He is always reading.
- ，。Bié jí, nǐ zǒng huì zuò hǎo de.Don't worry, you'll eventually do it well.
- 总？zǒng shíjiān shì duōshao?What's the total time?
Grammar
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