总 (always / keep on)
He does it every single time
- general总 (= always总是) = "always / keep on" — a persistent pattern.
- he / him他general总to arrive late迟到 = "he's always late."
- Also "after all / eventually": 总会good好(of / 's)的 (it'll be fine in the end).
general总 + Verb Phrase
- general总 marks a habit that keeps repeating.
he他always总be late迟到。
- he / him他general总to arrive late迟到 = "he's always late."
Explore
Correct or broken?
总 (= 总是) marks a persistent pattern — right before the verb.
Practice
He's always late: 他 ____ 迟到。
总 (= 总是) + VP = always: 他总迟到.
Practice
总 is short for 总是.
Yes — 总迟到 = 总是迟到.
Recap
Key idea
- general总 + Verb Phrase — "always / keep on" (= always总是): he / him他general总to arrive late迟到
- Also "eventually / after all": 总会good好(of / 's)的
- A persistent pattern, often with mild complaint
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Adverbs.
Practice
总会好的 means…
总 can also mean “eventually / after all”: 总会好的.