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总之 (in short / in a word)
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Wrapping it up
- At the end of a long discussion about holiday plans, you sum up.
- in short总之，we / us我们down下Friday周五to set off出发。 — "In short, we leave next Friday."
in short总之，+ summary = in short, in a word
- in short总之 introduces a conclusion or summary after several points.
- It usually starts the sentence, followed by a comma.
in short总之，this这次event活动very很successful成功。
Sum up: “In short, the event was a success.” ____，这次活动很成功。
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总之 introduces the summary.
After a list of reasons
- price价格太高，quality质量same一般，to serve服务also也no good不好。in short总之，I我don't不recommend it推荐。 — "The price is too high, the quality average, the service poor. In short, I don't recommend it."
- It pulls everything together into one point.
in short总之，I我don't不recommend it推荐。
Build: “In short, I don't recommend it.”
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总之，+ summary.
After the details, not before
- in short总之 comes after the points it sums up; it cannot open a conversation.
- It closes a discussion; for "for example" use for example比如.
总之 can open a conversation before any points are made.
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It sums up points already made.
in short总之 versus in short总而言之 and anyway反正
- in short总而言之 = the full, more formal form.
- anyway反正 = anyway, whatever happens: anyway反正I我don't不go去 — the speaker's mind is made up.
anyway反正I我won't不go去。
“Whatever you say, I'm not going anyway.” Which fits? ____我不去。
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A mind already made up = 反正.
Recap
- in short总之，… = in short, in a word (a summary after several points).
- Formal in short总而言之; anyway反正 = anyway (mind made up).
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Conjunctions.
At the end of a long discussion about holiday plans, you sum up. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.