总共 (zǒnggòng)

总共 indicates the total sum of something when all parts are counted together, meaning "in total," "altogether," or "in all."

Meanings

[adverb] In total; altogether; in all (states the combined count or amount).

Example Sentences

这次旅行总共花了三千元。 Zhè cì lǚxíng zǒnggòng huā le sānqiān yuán. This trip cost three thousand yuan in total.

班上总共有三十名学生。 Bān shàng zǒnggòng yǒu sānshí míng xuésheng. There are thirty students in the class altogether.

他总共买了五本书。 Tā zǒnggòng mǎi le wǔ běn shū. He bought five books in all.

这个项目总共需要六个月才能完成。 Zhège xiàngmù zǒnggòng xūyào liù gè yuè cái néng wánchéng. This project needs six months in total to be completed.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
总共有	there are ... in total
总共花了	spent ... in total
总共需要	requires ... in all
总共加起来	adding up to a total of

Usage Notes

总共 is very close in meaning to 共 and 一共, all meaning "in total." 总共 is slightly more emphatic and often preferred in slightly more formal contexts. 一共 is the most common in everyday conversation.

Memory Hook

总 means "general/overall" and 共 means "together/shared"; 总共 counts everything together under one roof to give you the grand total.