Chinese word

总的来说

Pronunciation

Pinyinzǒng de lái shuō

Meaning

  • adverbgenerally speaking

Example

总的来说，这个城市很安全。zǒng de lái shuō zhè ge chéng shì hěn ān quán

Generally speaking, this city is very safe.

Illustration for 总的来说 (generally speaking)

More examples

总的来说，他的表现比预期要好。zǒng de lái shuō tā de biǎo xiàn bǐ yù qī yào hǎo

Generally speaking, his performance was better than expected.

Core concept

Looks at the whole situation rather than one isolated part, then gives a general judgment.

Common phrases

  • 总的来说，zǒng de lái shuō

    generally speaking

Similar words

一般来说yì bān lái shuō: Used to state a general fact or tendency that applies in many cases.
总体来说zóng tǐ lái shuō: Used to give a summary or overall impression from the whole situation.
大体来说dà tǐ lái shuō: Used to give an approximate conclusion or impression without going into details.
总体上zóng tǐ shàng: Used to summarize an overall tendency or situation.

Definition in Chinese

表示从整体角度对某事作一般性判断或总结的副词，常置于句首以引出总体结论，语气中性且口语书面皆可用。biǎo shì cóng zhéng tǐ jiǎo dù duì mǒu shì zuò yì bān xìng pàn duàn huò zǒng jié de fù cí cháng zhì yú jù shǒu yǐ yǐn chū zóng tǐ jié lùn yǔ qì zhōng xìng qiě kóu yǔ shū miàn jiē kě yòng

Word origin

总的 (zǒngde, "overall") + 来说 (láishuō, "speaking of") forms a phrase that introduces a judgment about the whole situation.

Usage tips

  • The phrase helps separate a broad conclusion from a single example, which is useful when a conversation moves from details to the main point.

Other meanings

  • overalladverb

Opposites

  • 具体来说jù tǐ lái shuōspecifically speakingadverb
  • 具体而言jù tǐ ér yánspecifically speakingadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word