Chinese Grammar learning 语法: 总 + media + Verb

总 (zǒng) can often be simply translated as "always," but it has other advanced uses as well. It can express "no matter how long or under what circumstances, facts are facts." It can also express "no matter what." It is often paired with other words to form set phrases such as 总会, 总归, 总得, 总要, 总能, etc. It can also be structured together with other unconditional compound phrases like 无论 and 不管. You cannot place it directly after the verb.

总 with another character

In this structure, 总, with its companion character (usually a modal/auxiliary verb), means "always will (fill in character/action here)" once again, it gives the feeling of something very concrete and factual. One of the examples below says "No matter what happens, people have to eat."
总 + [other character] + Verb

Examples

zhè lǐ shì tā jiā, tā zǒnɡ huì huí lái de.
这里 是 他 家，他 总 会 回来 的。

This is his home. He will always come back.

zán men zǒnɡ dé xiǎnɡ ɡè bàn fǎ ā.
咱们 总 得 想 个 办法 啊。

We always have to come up with something to do.

nǐ ná le rén jiɑ de qián, zǒnɡ dé bānɡ rén jiɑ zuò shì bɑ.
你 拿 了 人家 的 钱，总 得 帮 人家 做 事 吧。

You took their money, so you're always going to have to help them do stuff.

bù ɡuǎn fā shēnɡ le shén me, rén zǒnɡ yào chī fàn ā.
不管 发生 了 什么，人 总 要 吃饭 啊。

No matter what happens, people have to eat.

tā zǒnɡ ɡuī shì nǐ de qīn shēnɡ fù qīn, nǐ bù nénɡ zhè yànɡ duì tā shuō huà.
他 总归 是 你 的 亲生 父亲，你 不能 这样 对 他 说话。

He is your father, you can't talk to him like that.

wú lùn wǒ bǎ qián cánɡ zài nǎ lǐ, tā zǒnɡ nénɡ zhǎo dào.
无论 我 把 钱 藏 在 哪里，他 总 能 找 到。

No matter wher I hide my money, he is always able to find it.

Structure with 不 and 没

When 总 is used together with a negating wor(like 不 or 没), it often has a tone of speculation, judgement or suggestion. The sentence often ends with a 吧.
总 + [negative word] + Verb
Examples
zhème dà niánjì le，zǒnɡ bú nénɡ rànɡ tā yī ɡè rén qù bɑ？
这么 大 年纪 了，总 不 能 让 他 一 个 人 去 吧？
zhème wǎn le，zǒnɡ bú huì chū le shénmeshì bɑ？
这么 晚 了，总 不 会 出 了 什么事 吧？