总共
zǒnggòng · HSK 4
in all
➕ 总共 = 总 (overall) + 共 (together) → altogether
总 means overall or chief; 共 means common or together. Combined, 总共 literally stacks overall + together to mean in all or altogether. The 共 component also appears in 一共, a near-synonym.
总 — top 丷 + 口 + 心 (heart radical)
总 is the simplified form of 總. The traditional form combined 糸 (silk threads) with 悤 as phonetic, originally meaning to gather or tie threads together. From 'bundling threads' the meaning extended to 'gather all,' 'general,' 'overall,' and 'always.'
共 — 两手 (廾) holding up an object
共 originally depicted two hands raised together, lifting or offering something jointly. The ancient form showed a vessel or object held up by paired hands, conveying shared action. From 'lifting together' it shifted to mean 'together,' 'common,' or 'share.'