総そうじて

そ

う

じ

て

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

adverb

in general; generally

Used to make a broad statement that applies to most cases or to the overall tendency, without focusing on exceptions.

今年ことしの夏なつは総そうじて涼すずしかった。
This summer was generally cool.

2

adverb

as a whole; all in all; altogether

Used when considering the overall picture or summing up a situation, often after listing several points.

総そうじて言いえば、この計けい画かくは成せい功こうだった。
All in all, this plan was a success.

Usage patterns

総そうじて〈形けい容よう詞し〉generally ~ (used before an adjective to summarize an overall impression)
今年ことしの夏なつは総そうじて暑あつかった。
This summer was generally hot.
総そうじて〈事こと〉と言いえるit can be said that, in general, ~
彼かれの作さく品ひんは総そうじて評ひょう価かが高たかいと言いえる。
It can be said that his works are, on the whole, highly regarded.

Kanji

総general, whole, all

Related words

概がいして sense 1
概して and 総じて both mean 'generally', but 概して feels more formal and analytical while 総じて is common in everyday speech.
一いっ般ぱんにN2sense 1
一般に means 'generally' in the sense of a widely accepted rule or fact, whereas 総じて is used to summarize a speaker's own impression of many cases.
大だい体たいN5sense 2
大体 means 'roughly, mostly' and often refers to approximate amounts or degrees, while 総じて sums up an overall tendency after considering various points.
軒のき並なみN1
総じて means 'generally speaking' and allows for exceptions, whereas 軒並み implies that virtually every single item or house is affected without exception.
おおむねN1
総じて is used when summarizing across many individual cases ('on the whole'), while 概ね can describe a single situation's approximate state.

Etymology

From the kanji 総 (overall) and the classical verb す (to do) in its continuative form して, literally 'doing overall'. The reading そうじて is a regular sound change from そうして.