合計 — meaning in English: total

gōkei · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for sum

瞬間

shunkan

合計

gōkei

雪

yuki

鼻

hana

ホールド

hōrudo

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neutral common

Usage

Native speakers often use the word 合計 (gōkei) when discussing finances, such as calculating the total of expenses or sales in a business meeting. It's also common in academic settings, for instance, when presenting the total score of a test or project to highlight overall performance.

Synonyms & nuances

A close synonym is 総計 (sōkei), which also means 'total.' However, 総計 tends to be used in more formal or official contexts, such as legal documents or financial statements, while 合計 is more commonly used in everyday conversation. Choosing 合計 suggests a more casual or familiar setting.

Culture

The word 合計 (gōkei) is composed of two kanji: 合 (go), meaning 'to combine' or 'to fit,' and 計 (kei), which refers to 'calculation' or 'measure.' This reflects the Japanese cultural emphasis on precision and accuracy in both everyday life and professional contexts. Interestingly, gōkei can also be used in a more abstract sense, such as calculating emotional or social 'totals' in discussions about group dynamics.

FAQ

Q.What does 合計 mean in English?

合計 (gōkei) translates to 'total' in English, referring to the sum or aggregate of numbers or items. It's commonly used in various contexts, particularly in finance and education.

Q.How do you use 合計 in a sentence?

You could say: '今月の合計は5000円です。' (Konkatsu no gōkei wa 5000 en desu.), which means 'The total for this month is 5000 yen.' This demonstrates its practical use in everyday financial discussions.

Q.Are there any common mistakes when using 合計?

A common mistake is to use 合計 (gōkei) inappropriately in overly formal contexts. In such cases, using 総計 (sōkei) might be more suitable. Additionally, learners sometimes confuse it with the word 合わせる (awaseru), which means 'to combine' rather than 'total.'

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