Advanced uses of "zong"

总 (zǒng) can often be simply translated as "always," but it has other advanced uses as well. It can express "no matter how long or under what circumstances, facts are facts." It can also express "no matter what." It is often paired with other words to form set phrases such as 总会, 总归, 总得, 总要, 总能, etc. It can also be structured together with other unconditional compound phrases like 无论 and 不管. You cannot place it directly after the verb.

总 with another character

In this structure, 总, with its companion character (usually a modal/auxiliary verb), means "always will (fill in character/action here)" Once again, it gives the feeling of something very concrete and factual. One of the examples below says "No matter what happens, people have to eat."

总 + [other character] + Verb

Examples

• 这里 是 他 家，他 总 会 回来 的。This is his home. He will always come back.
• 咱们 总 得 想 个 办法 啊。We always have to come up with something to do.
• 你 拿 了 人家 的 钱，总 得 帮 人家 做 事 吧。You took their money, so you're always going to have to help them do stuff.
• 不管 发生 了 什么，人 总 要 吃饭 啊。No matter what happens, people have to eat.
• 他 总归 是 你 的 亲生 父亲，你 不能 这样 对 他 说话。He is your father, you can't talk to him like that.
• 无论 我 把 钱 藏 在 哪里，他 总 能 找 到。No matter where I hide my money, he is always able to find it.

Structure with 不 and 没

When 总 is used together with a negating word (like 不 or 没), it often has a tone of speculation, judgement or suggestion. The sentence often ends with a 吧.

总 + [negative word] + Verb

Examples

• 这么 大 年纪 了，总 不 能 让 他 一 个 人 去 吧？
• 这么 晚 了，总 不 会 出 了 什么事 吧？
• 总 不 会 是 你 偷 了 东西 又 去 报案 的 吧？
• 你们 之间 联系 这么 少，看 起来 总 不 像 是 一 家 人。

See also

• Comparing "zongsuan" and “zhongyu"
• "Always" with "zongshi"
• Expressing "After All" with "bijing"
• Expressing "In the End" with "daodi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (总归p. 698) →buy

• 现代汉语虚词例释(总 p.663）→buy