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.
Used with Auxiliary Verb
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."
Structure
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.
- 不管 发生 了 什么，人 总 要 吃饭 吧。No matter
what happens, people have to eat.
- 他 是 你 爸爸，你 总 要 礼貌 一点 吧。He is your
father, you should always a little more polite.
- 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.
Used 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.
Structure
Examples
- 你们 之间 的 联系 这么 少，看 起来 总 不 像 是 一 家
人。You talk to each other so little. It seems
that you're barely family.
- 他 这么 大 年纪 了，我们 总 不 能 让 他 一个人 去
吧？He'e so old. We can't let him go there all
alone. What do you think?
- 这么 晚 了，总 不 会 出 了 什么事 吧？It's getting late. Do you think something bad
happened?
- 这 件 事 总 不 会 是 内部 的 人 做 的
吧？Do you think this is an inside
job?
- 他 想 带 父母 去 旅行，可是 总 没 时间。He wants to take her parents to travel, but he's always not
able to find time.
See also
Sources and further
reading
Books
Category:B2 grammar points