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."

Basic structure

总 + [other character] + Verb

Examples

zhèlǐ shì tā jiā,tā zǒnɡ huì huílái de。
这里 是 他 家,他 总 会 回来 的。
This is his home. He will always come back.

zánmen zǒnɡ dé xiǎnɡ ɡè bànfǎ ā。
咱们 总 得 想 个 办法 啊。
We always have to come up with something to do.

nǐ ná le rénjiɑ de qián,zǒnɡ dé bānɡ rénjiɑ 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.

bùɡuǎn fāshēnɡ le shénme,rén zǒnɡ yào chīfàn ā。
不管 发生 了 什么,人 总 要 吃饭 啊。
No matter what happens, people have to eat.

tā zǒnɡɡuī shì nǐ de qīnshēnɡ fùqīn,nǐ bùnénɡ zhèyànɡ duì tā shuōhuà。
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.

wúlùn wǒ bǎ qián cánɡ zài nǎlǐ,tā zǒnɡ nénɡ zhǎo dào。
无论 我 把 钱 藏 在 哪里,他 总 能 找 到。
No matter where I hide my money, he is always able to find it.

Structure with 不 and 没

When 总 is used together with a negating word (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?
zǒnɡ bú huì shì nǐ tōu le dōnɡxi yòu qù bàoàn de bɑ?
总 不 会 是 你 偷 了 东西 又 去 报案 的 吧?
nǐmen zhījiān liánxì zhème shǎo,kàn qǐlái zǒnɡ bú xiànɡ shì yī jiā rén。
你们 之间 联系 这么 少,看 起来 总 不 像 是 一 家 人。