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总数 (zǒng shù) — total; sum; aggregate

Definition

总数 is the 'grand total' — the overall number of people, items, or quantities. 总和 is closer to the mathematical 'sum', while 总额 is specifically for money or value.

noun
totalsumaggregate

Examples

  • 总数。
    Zhè cì huó dòng de cān jiā zǒng shù shì liǎng bǎi rén.
    The total number of participants in this event is 200 people.
  • 总数。
    Jīn nián gōng sī de xiāo shòu zǒng shù dá dào le wǔ bǎi wàn.
    This year the company's total sales reached five million.
  • 总数。
    Qǐng bǎ suǒ yǒu shù jù de zǒng shù suàn chū lái.
    Please calculate the total of all the data.

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zǒngtotal
数shùnumber

总 adds the sense of whole and 数 means number, so the word denotes a complete count.

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.

Open 总 →

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 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu數shù(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

Open 数 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Math

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