总
Character learning workspace

zǒng · to gather, to collect

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 3Frequency #335
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 总

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 总 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

9Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

心Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 总 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 总

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

zǒngWords pronounced zǒng
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Example sentences

Notice where 总 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ yǒu yì diǎn shí jiān, dàn zǒng shì bù duō ...我有一点时间,但总是不多...

I have some time, but never very much...

Source: Tatoeba #346877 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì zhège guó jiā de zǒng lǐ.他是这个国家的总理。

He is the prime minister of this country.

Source: Tatoeba #3713331 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zǒng shì yǒu shì.我总是有事。

I'm busy all the time.

Source: Tatoeba #7771930 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zì diǎn shàng xiě de bù zǒng shì duì de.字典上写的不总是对的。

What a dictionary says is not always right.

Source: Tatoeba #333152 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ méi yǒu zǒng shì zhè yàng zuò.我没有总是这样做。

I don't always do it that way.

Source: Tatoeba #13046537 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zǒng shì zài xiào zhe.他总是在笑着。

He's always laughing.

Source: Tatoeba #4761442 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 总 in context

  1. Say zǒng, then recall the core meaning: to gather, to collect.
  2. Write all 9 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 总是 (zǒng shì), meaning “always”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 总 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.