一共
in total; altogether
yígòng
What does 一共 mean?
一共 (yígòng) is the adverb meaning 'in total, altogether, in all' — used to give a summed amount of money, people, items, or time. It typically appears right before the verb (usually 是 'is' or a verb of having / counting) and the totalled quantity: 一共多少钱 ('how much in total'), 一共有十个人 ('there are ten people in total'). Two things English speakers often miss.
First, 一共 is the go-to word at cashiers and counters — every shopkeeper in China will say 一共 X 块 when telling you your total. Second, 一共 differs from 总共 (zǒnggòng) only slightly: 总共 is a touch more formal / written but they are interchangeable in most everyday contexts. Note the tone change: 一 is read yí (second tone) before the fourth-tone 共.
Character breakdown
one
together; shared; total
Memory hook: 一 (one) + 共 (together) = added up into one total.
Example sentences
一共多少钱？
Yígòng duōshǎo qián?
How much altogether?
spoken
我们班一共有二十个学生。
Wǒmen bān yígòng yǒu èrshí ge xuésheng.
Our class has twenty students in total.
neutral
这些菜一共五十块钱。
Zhèxiē cài yígòng wǔshí kuài qián.
These dishes come to fifty yuan in total.
spoken
我一共去过三次中国。
Wǒ yígòng qù guo sān cì Zhōngguó.
I've been to China three times in total.
neutral
今天一共有十个人来开会。
Jīntiān yígòng yǒu shí ge rén lái kāihuì.
A total of ten people came to the meeting today.
neutral
Common phrases with 一共
Synonyms
总共 is interchangeable with 一共 in most contexts. 总共 feels slightly more formal and is preferred in written reports and announcements; 一共 dominates in shops, restaurants, and everyday speech.
Don't confuse 一共 with
一起 = 'together (with someone)'. 一共 = 'in total (as a sum)'. 我们一起吃饭 ('we eat together') vs 一共三个人吃饭 ('three people are eating in total').
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