总的来说 (zǒng de lái shuō)

phrase / adverb HSK 4

Traditional 總的來說

zǒng de lái shuō

generally speaking · on the whole · all in all · overall

Meaning

This phrase is used to introduce a summary or general conclusion after discussing various points. It signals that the speaker is about to give an overall assessment or wrap up their thoughts, often acknowledging that there may be exceptions or details not covered.

Usage

Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to transition to a concluding statement. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence. Native speakers use it when summarizing opinions, evaluations, or situations. Similar in register to '总之' (zǒng zhī) but slightly more conversational and comprehensive.

Examples

01
总的来说，这次会议很成功。
Zǒng de lái shuō, zhè cì huì yì hěn chéng gōng.
Overall, this meeting was very successful.
02
总的来说，他是一个值得信赖的人。
Zǒng de lái shuō, tā shì yí gè zhí dé xìn lài de rén.
Generally speaking, he is a trustworthy person.

Characters

Antonyms

具体来说jù tǐ lái shuōspecifically speaking

Origin

Literally means 'from the total/overall to speak.' This construction combines 总 (total/overall) with the pattern 来说 (speaking from the perspective of), creating a formulaic phrase for introducing summative statements.