总之
in short; in a word; anyway (sums up what came before)
Structure
几点情况或理由 。 总之 ， 结论
What it means
“In short, in a word”: gathers several points into one conclusion. Also “anyway”: brushes vague details aside and states what matters.
How it is built
Points or reasons。总之，conclusion: 签证、付款、坐车都比以前简单了。总之，来中国旅行方便多了 (in short, travelling in China is far easier now).
When to use it
Opens the last sentence, usually with a comma. 总而言之 is longer and more formal; 总的来说 (on the whole) weighs things up rather than closing them off.
Watch out
Something must come before it to sum up; don’t use it to bring in a new point, and don’t say ✗ 总之说.
Examples
签证、付款、坐车、退税，都比以前简单了。总之，来中国旅行方便多了。
Visas, paying, trains, tax refunds: all of them are simpler than before. In short, travelling in China is far easier now.
他有时说工作太忙，有时说身体不好，总之就是不想来。
Sometimes he says work is too busy, sometimes that he is not well; in a word, he just does not want to come.
我也说不清为什么，总之，这个城市让我觉得很舒服。
I can’t really say why; anyway, this city makes me feel very much at home.
Learn this in Lesson 26 · HSK 5: 外国游客来了 (China Travel: the visitors return)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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