Meaning and Usage
"합계" means the total sum or summation of numbers or amounts. It is commonly used in financial, statistical, or everyday contexts where adding up values is necessary.
Common Contexts
You will often see "합계" in receipts, invoices, tables, and reports where the total amount or total count is shown.
Collocations and Patterns
- 합계 금액 (total amount): used in financial contexts to indicate the total money sum.
- 합계 점수 (total score): used in academic or game scoring contexts.
- 합계를 내다 (to calculate the sum): a common phrase when adding numbers.
Register and Politeness
"합계" is a neutral noun suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is often used in written and spoken Korean without any special honorific form.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "합계" with "총계" (also meaning total). While similar, "총계" often refers to a grand total or overall total, sometimes including subtotals, whereas "합계" is more straightforwardly the sum of listed items. Use "합계" when referring specifically to the sum of parts.