ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
总
always; total; chief
zǒng
9 strokes · 心 (heart) beneath a gathered bundle — everything tied into one · HSK 3
总 in traditional Chinese
總
What 总 is made of
丷 + 口 + 心 = 总
丷divide (two strokes)
Where 总 comes from
The traditional form 總 shows silk threads being tied into one bundle. Gathering all strands together gives 'total'; what holds for the whole gives 'always'; the one who holds the bundle is the chief.
总 in Chinese culture
总是 always, 总统 president ('chief unifier'), 老总 the boss. 总之 'in short' wraps any rambling explanation. Every company's CEO is a 总 — 张总, 李总: Chief Zhang, Chief Li.
Example
总是 zǒngshì — always
他总是迟到。
Tā zǒngshì chídào.
He is always late.
How to remember it
All threads TIED into one bundle — the TOTAL, held ALWAYS by the CHIEF.
In Chinese offices the surname + 总 (王总 'Chief Wang') is the default honorific for any boss — one character doing the work of 'CEO'.
Same sound, different tones
Words unlocked by 总
总是 zǒngshì
always
总统 zǒngtǒng
president
Related characters
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