The Meaning of gōkei [合計] In Japanese

合計
ごうけい
Romaji: gōkei N5

What does 合計 mean?

Translation and Meaning

total, sum

Definition

合計 means the final amount obtained by adding numbers or items together; it represents the overall quantity or value after aggregation in a calculation, report, or tally.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • The sum of all parts in a set, yielding the final numeric figure.
  • A final tally used in financial statements or calculations to indicate overall quantity or value.

Composition

  • 合: to combine, unite
  • 計: count, calculate, measure
  • Combined, they form the concept of a total reached by summing all parts

Usage

In formal and written contexts, especially accounting, finance, statistics, and academic work, 合計 denotes the total after combining items; in everyday language it refers to the overall sum of a small group of numbers. The form is typically used with numerals, as in 合計がX円 or 合計点, depending on context.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture 合 as something that fits numbers together and 計 as counting; together they seal the final tally as a single container of numbers.

Variations

  • 総計 (そうけい, romaji: sōkei) – total
  • 総額 (そうがく, romaji: sōgaku) – total amount
  • 小計 (しょうけい, romaji: shōkei) – subtotal
  • 合算 (ごうさん, romaji: gōsan) – to sum up

Words with the same Meaning

Example Phrases

  • 今日の買い物の合計は現金で三千円でした。
    Kyō no kaimono no gōkei wa genkin de sanzen-en deshita.
    The total for today’s shopping was three thousand yen, paid in cash.
    Lista:
    • 今日の (kyō no) – today’s
    • 買い物の (kaimono no) – of shopping
    • 合計は (gōkei wa) – total is
    • 現金で (genkin de) – in cash
    • 三千円でした (sanzen-en deshita) – was three thousand yen
    In this sentence, 「合計」 is the noun meaning ‘total’; it is connected to 買い物 by の, and は marks the topic.
合計