总的来说 (zǒng de lái shuō) — generally speaking
HSK 4 | phrase | generally speaking; on the whole; overall
总的来说 (zǒng de lái shuō)
总的来说 is a set phrase used to introduce a general conclusion or overall assessment, equivalent to "generally speaking," "overall," or "on the whole."
Meanings
- [phrase] generally speaking; on the whole; overall
Example Sentences
总的来说，这次旅行很愉快。 Zǒng de lái shuō, zhè cì lǚxíng hěn yúkuài. Generally speaking, this trip was very enjoyable.
总的来说，他的表现还不错。 Zǒng de lái shuō, tā de biǎoxiàn hái bùcuò. Overall, his performance was not bad.
总的来说，这个方案是可行的。 Zǒng de lái shuō, zhège fāng'àn shì kěxíng de. On the whole, this plan is feasible.
总的来说，学中文需要时间和耐心。 Zǒng de lái shuō, xué Zhōngwén xūyào shíjiān hé nàixīn. Generally speaking, learning Chinese requires time and patience.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 总的来说还好 | overall it is fine |
| 总的来说问题不大 | overall not a big problem |
| 总的来说还不错 | on the whole not bad |
| 总的来说可以 | generally speaking acceptable |
Usage Notes
总的来说 is slightly softer and more analytical than 总之 (zǒngzhī). While both introduce summaries, 总的来说 frames a balanced overall view, often used in evaluations, reviews, or reports. It is a fixed phrase and is always used at the start of a sentence or clause.
Memory Hook
ZONG (总 = total/overall) + DE LAI SHUO (的来说 = speaking from): "speaking from a total view" -- that is the overall picture.