总和 (zǒng hé) — sum, total | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

总和 is the formal 'sum / total' of quantities added together. 总数 is a more common general total, while 总额 is reserved for monetary totals.

noun

sumtotal

Examples

总和。
Zhè sān gè shù de zǒng hé shì shí wǔ.
The sum of these three numbers is fifteen.
总和。
Gōng sī jīn nián de zhī chū zǒng hé bǐ qù nián gāo.
The total expenditure of the company this year is higher than last year.
总和。
Suǒ yǒu cān sài zhě de dé fēn zǒng hé yǐ jīng gōng bù.
The sum of all contestants' scores has been announced.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

总 gathers all parts, 和 gives their sum, together naming the total.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 總; 总 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìrope

Sound part声符shēngfú

悤

悤cōng總zǒng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 總 has 糸, a rope, and 悤 as a sound part; the rope part is for binding together. This account is for 總, not for 总.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

禾口和

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

禾

禾hé和hé

Same sound today

和 pairs 禾, which gives the sound, with 口 (mouth), the meaning part; the reference connects this shape to harmony.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Math

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.