“In Conclusion” in Chinese — 总之 zǒngzhī

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OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 5
Grammar Point · HSK 5

“In Conclusion” (Simple) — 总之 zǒngzhī

总之 zǒngzhī means “in short,” “in conclusion,” or “anyway.” It wraps up what was said before and leads to the main point.

總之 zǒngzhī in conclusion in Chinese

总之 zǒngzhī usually comes at the start of the last clause, followed by a comma. It works in both speech and writing, and it’s the everyday, simple way to say “in conclusion.”

1Structure

Details / Reasons，总之 zǒngzhī，+ Conclusion

After listing several details or reasons, 总之 zǒngzhī sums them up: “in short, …”

他tā又yòu不bú认真rènzhēn，又yòu常常chángcháng迟到chídào，总之zǒngzhī，我wǒ不bù想xiǎng跟gēn他tā一起yìqǐ工作gōngzuò
He’s careless and he’s always late. In short, I don’t want to work with him.
这里zhèlǐ交通jiāotōng方便fāngbiàn，东西dōngxi便宜piányi，人rén也yě很hěn友善yǒushàn，总之zǒngzhī，我wǒ很hěn喜欢xǐhuan住zhù在zài这里zhèlǐ
Transportation here is convenient, things are cheap, and people are friendly. In short, I love living here.
不bù管guǎn是shì天气tiānqì、食物shíwù还是háishì工作gōngzuò，总之zǒngzhī，我wǒ在zài台湾Táiwān过guò得de很hěn开心kāixīn
The weather, the food, my job… all in all, I’m really happy in Taiwan.
我们wǒmen讨论tǎolùn了le很hěn久jiǔ，总之zǒngzhī，下xià个ge月yuè的de旅行lǚxíng取消qǔxiāo了le
We discussed it for a long time. Long story short, next month’s trip is canceled.

…，总之 zǒngzhī，+ Main Point: “anyway”

总之 zǒngzhī can also skip the details. It means “whatever the reason / anyway, the point is…”

我wǒ也yě不bù知道zhīdào为什么wèishénme，总之zǒngzhī，他tā今天jīntiān不bú会huì来lái了le
I don’t know why either. Anyway, he’s not coming today.
你nǐ别bié问wèn那么nàme多duō了le，总之zǒngzhī，明天míngtiān早上zǎoshang八bā点diǎn在zài门口ménkǒu等děng我wǒ
Stop asking so many questions. Just wait for me at the door at eight tomorrow morning.
不bù管guǎn你nǐ怎么zěnme想xiǎng，总之zǒngzhī，我wǒ已经yǐjīng决定juédìng了le
Whatever you think, the point is I’ve already decided.
事情shìqing很hěn复杂fùzá，总之zǒngzhī，现在xiànzài没事méishì了le
It’s complicated. Anyway, everything’s fine now.
💡 The formal version: 总而言之

总之 zǒngzhī is short for 总而言之 zǒng ér yán zhī, literally “to sum up in words.” The full form sounds more formal and is common in speeches, essays, and reports.

总而言之zǒng’éryánzhī，这zhè个ge计划jìhuà还hái需要xūyào更gèng多duō时间shíjiān
In conclusion, this plan still needs more time.
📌 总之 zǒngzhī vs. 反正 fǎnzhèng

Both can mean “anyway,” but 总之 zǒngzhī sums up what came before, while 反正 fǎnzhèng means “regardless, it doesn’t matter,” often with a careless or impatient attitude.

他tā会huì不bú会huì来lái都dōu没méi关系guānxi，反正fǎnzhèng我wǒ要yào去qù
It doesn’t matter whether he comes or not. I’m going anyway.

2Common Mistakes

❌ 我wǒ总之zǒngzhī很hěn喜欢xǐhuan这里zhèlǐ
✅ 总之zǒngzhī，我wǒ很hěn喜欢xǐhuan这里zhèlǐ
总之 zǒngzhī introduces the whole conclusion, so it goes at the very start of the clause, before the subject, usually followed by a comma.
❌ 他tā总之zǒngzhī迟到chídào
✅ 他tā总是zǒngshì迟到chídào
Don’t mix up 总之 zǒngzhī (“in short”) with 总是 zǒngshì (“always”). They look alike but mean completely different things.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01The rent is high and the room is small. In short, I don’t want to live there.
房租fángzū很hěn贵guì，房间fángjiān也yě很hěn小xiǎo，总之zǒngzhī，我wǒ不bù想xiǎng住zhù那里nàlǐ。
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02Anyway, you have to finish it before Friday.
总之zǒngzhī，你nǐ一定yídìng要yào在zài星期五xīngqíwǔ以前yǐqián做zuò完wán。
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03Whether you agree or not, I’ve made up my mind anyway.
不bù管guǎn你nǐ同tóng不bù同意tóngyì，总之zǒngzhī，我wǒ已经yǐjīng决定juédìng了le。
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04It’s a long story. In short, we broke up.
说shuō来lái话huà长cháng，总之zǒngzhī，我们wǒmen分手fēnshǒu了le。
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05The food is good and the service is great. All in all, it’s worth a visit.
菜cài很hěn好吃hǎochī，服务fúwù也yě很hěn好hǎo，总之zǒngzhī，很hěn值得zhídé去qù。
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06I don’t remember the details. Anyway, it was a great trip.
细节xìjié我wǒ不bú记得jìde了le，总之zǒngzhī，那nà是shì一yí次cì很hěn棒bàng的de旅行lǚxíng。
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07Whatever happens, call me.
总之zǒngzhī，有yǒu什么shénme事shì就jiù打dǎ电话diànhuà给gěi我wǒ。
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08He’s smart and hard-working. In short, he’s a great student.
他tā又yòu聪明cōngming又yòu努力nǔlì，总之zǒngzhī，他tā是shì一yí个ge很hěn好hǎo的de学生xuésheng。
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