総 means “total, whole, general”

そう · sou

Also: all, full

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

すべて, ふさ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 5 · 14 strokes

The story

Threads (糸) beside a public (公) heart (心): picture every loose strand gathered up for the common good. 総 is all of it: 総額 is the grand total, 総合 means all-round, and 総理 is the prime minister, who answers for the whole.

Used in 総理 (souri, prime minister), 総合 (sougou, comprehensive/overall), and 総額 (sougaku, total amount)

More from Halls of Government

• 領 territory
• 府 government office
• 委 committee
• 団 group
• 勢 force
• 副 vice-
• 省 ministry
• 禁 prohibit
• 署 public office
• 則 rule
• 庁 government agency
• 令 order

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.