Usage note
一共用来表示总数。比如，你可以说：一共有五个苹果。
yī gòng lái bǐ zhào shù zǒng 。rú jí ， nǐ kě yuán shuō ： yī gòng yǒu wǔ gè píng guǒ 。
一共 is used to indicate the total number. For example, you can say: 一共有五个苹果，which means there are five apples in total.
Context note
这个词常用于描述总数。比如在数物品、计算钱款或者统计人数时会用到。
zhè gè cí cháng yòng lái miáo shù shù zǒng 。rú jí zài shǔ wù pǐn 、 kān cè qián kuǎn huò zhě tōng jiào rén shù shí huì yòng dào 。
This word is commonly used to describe the total number. For example, it can be used when counting items, calculating money, or counting people.
5 examples
一共五个苹果。
yí gòng wǔ gè píng guǒ。
There are five apples in total.
一共有十本书。
yí gòng yǒu shí běn shū。
There are ten books in total.
一共花了五十元。
yí gòng huā le wǔ shí yuán。
It cost fifty yuan in total.
我们班一共三十个人。
wǒ men bān yí gòng sān shí gè rén。
Our class has thirty people in total.
一共有三个小朋友来参加活动。
yí gòng yǒu sān gè xiǎo péng yǒu lái cān jiā huó dòng。
There are three children coming to participate in the activity in total.
5 mini stories
妈妈买了五个苹果，两个梨子，一共七个水果。
mā ma mǎi le wǔ gè píng guǒ， liǎng gè lí zǐ， yí gòng qī gè shuǐ guǒ。
Mom bought five apples and two pears, making a total of seven fruits.
小明有三个朋友来玩，加上他自己，一共四个小朋友。
xiǎo míng yǒu sān gè péng yǒu lái wán， jiā shàng tā zì jǐ， yí gòng sì gè xiǎo péng yǒu。
Xiaoming has three friends coming to play, plus himself, there are four children in total.
我们班去公园野餐，一共带了十个面包和五个苹果。
wǒ men bān qù gōng yuán yě cān， yí gòng dài le shí gè miàn bāo hé wǔ gè píng guǒ。
Our class went on a picnic to the park and brought ten breads and five apples in total.
姐姐给了弟弟两个玩具车，加上他原有的三个，一共五个玩具车。
jiě jie gěi le dì dì liǎng gè wán jù chē， jiā shàng tā yuán yǒu de sān gè， yí gòng wǔ gè wán jù chē。
Sister gave brother two toy cars, plus his original three, making a total of five toy cars.
妈妈做了十个饺子，爸爸吃了四个，爷爷奶奶各吃了两个，一共吃了八个饺子。
mā ma zuò le shí gè jiǎo zǐ， bà ba chī le sì gè， yé ye nǎi nai gè chī le liǎng gè， yí gòng chī le bā gè jiǎo zǐ。
Mom made ten dumplings, Dad ate four, and Grandpa and Grandma each ate two, making a total of eight dumplings eaten.
Mini dialogue
买文具
A
这些铅笔和橡皮一共多少钱？
Zhèxiē qiānbǐ hé xiàngpí yī gòng duōshǎo qián?
How much are these pencils and erasers in total?
B
一共十块钱。
Yī gòng shí kuài qián.
Ten yuan in total.
数人数
A
我们班一共有多少个学生？
Wǒmen bān yī gòng yǒu duōshǎo gè xuéshēng?
How many students are there in total in our class?
B
我们班一共有三十个学生。
Wǒmen bān yī gòng yǒu sānshí gè xuéshēng.
There are thirty students in total in our class.
Related words and contrasts
similar
总共
zǒnggòng
altogether
总共 is slightly more formal than 一共