sums
/sʌm/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈʌmz] /sʌm/ (ame, ipa) · [sˈʌmz] /ˈsəm How to pronounce sum (audio)/ (ame, mw)
sums — 名詞
1. A specific quantity of money, which can be large or small.
款項
一筆特定金額的錢
A specific quantity of money, which can be large or small.
The insurance company paid Isabela a large sum for the damage to her house.
保險公司為 Isabela 房屋的損失支付了一大筆款項。
a + adj + sum of + money: 'a large sum'
Kofi received a lump sum of fifty thousand dollars when he retired from the factory.
Kofi 從工廠退休時領到了一筆五萬美元的一次性款項。
a lump sum — a single payment of money
The charity raised a considerable sum for the new hospital wing in the village.
慈善機構為村裡的新醫院側翼募得了一筆可觀的款項。
Small monthly payments can add up to a significant sum over several years.
每月的小額付款經過幾年後可能累積成一筆可觀的款項。
Hannah agreed to lend the sum of two hundred dollars to her cousin for the bus fare.
Hannah 同意借給表妹兩百美元作為車費。
文法句型
a + adj + sum + of + money
用法筆記
Commonly paired with adjectives like 'large', 'small', 'considerable', 'lump', 'modest', 'sizable' to describe the amount.
常見錯誤
2. The result that comes from putting several amounts together to make a single, la
總和
數字相加後的結果
The result that comes from putting several amounts together to make a single, larger amount.
The sum of twelve and seven is nineteen, which is an odd number.
十二和七的總和是十九。
the sum of X and Y = result
Erik checked his calculation twice to make sure the sum was correct before handing in his test.
Erik 把計算檢查了兩次以確保總和無誤，才交了考卷。
Lara asked the children to find the sum of all the numbers in the first column of the table.
Lara 叫孩子們算出表格第一列所有數字的總和。
The sum of their ages is seventy-three years, which the class found surprising.
他們年齡的總和是七十三歲，全班同學都覺得很意外。
If you add the scores from all five rounds, the sum is two hundred and forty points.
如果你把五輪的分數加起來，總和是兩百四十分。
- difference
the result of subtraction
文法句型
the sum of + numbers/nouns
常見錯誤
3. Used in the fixed phrase 'in sum' to introduce a general statement that covers e
總而言之
總結所有要點
Used in the fixed phrase 'in sum' to introduce a general statement that covers everything previously mentioned.
In sum, the board agreed that the plan needed more research before it could go ahead.
總而言之，董事會認為該計劃在實施之前需要更多研究。
In sum, [main conclusion]
The professor's final lecture was, in sum, a reminder that curiosity matters more than grades do.
教授最後一堂課總而言之就是在提醒：好奇心比成績更重要。
To sum up, the project was successful but cost more money than the team had expected.
總結來說，這個計畫很成功，但花費比團隊預期的要多。
In sum, Takeshi argued that the company should focus on product quality before anything else.
總而言之，Takeshi 認為公司應該先專注於產品品質。
- in short
more common in everyday speech, slightly less formal
- in conclusion
formal, typically used in writing to signal the final paragraph
- briefly
adverb emphasising conciseness
文法句型
in sum
用法筆記
Nearly always appears as the fixed phrase 'in sum' at the beginning of a concluding sentence. The related verb form 'to sum up' is more common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
4. A total that covers everything being considered — in many cases, a notably small
全部
某事物的總量（通常不多）
A total that covers everything being considered — in many cases, a notably small one.
That disappointing sum was all the money Faisal had managed to save in an entire year.
那令人失望的全部金額就是 Faisal 一整年存下來的錢。
The sum total of Walid's belongings fit into a single suitcase when he moved abroad.
Walid 的全部家當只裝得進一個行李箱。
the sum total of — emphasises smallness
Priya's knowledge of French amounted to the sum of a few words she had learned on holiday.
Priya 的法語知識全部加起來不過就是在度假時學到的幾個單詞。
After months of fundraising, the sum raised was barely enough to buy new books for one classroom.
募款好幾個月之後，募到的全部金額連買一個班級的新書都不夠。
文法句型
the sum total of + noun
the sum of + noun
用法筆記
Often carries a disappointed or dismissive tone. The phrase 'sum total' is especially common when the speaker wants to emphasise how little something amounts to.
5. A simple calculation that involves adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing
算術題
簡單的數學計算練習
A simple calculation that involves adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing numbers, especially for school exercises.
The teacher gave the class a page of sums to finish before the lunch bell rang.
老師給全班發了一頁算術題，要在午餐鈴響前做完。
a page of sums
Gabriel struggled with the division sums at first but found addition easy.
Gabriel 一開始覺得除法算術題很難，但覺得加法很簡單。
Ari helped his younger sister check her maths sums after dinner each evening.
Ari 每天晚飯後幫妹妹檢查數學算術題。
The exam had twenty simple sums and five word problems that took longer to solve.
考試有二十題簡單的算術題和五題應用題。
Doing mental sums while shopping helps Pim keep track of how much money he is spending.
購物時用心算有助於 Pim 掌握自己花了多少錢。
- calculation
broader — includes complex or real-world maths
- problem
more general term used in American English
- arithmetic
the subject itself, not a single exercise
文法句型
do sums
word sums
用法筆記
This use is especially common in British English education contexts. In American English, 'math problems' or 'calculations' are more typical.
常見錯誤
6. The most important or essential part of something, such as an argument, book, or
要點
最核心的內容
The most important or essential part of something, such as an argument, book, or speech.
The sum of Isabela's speech was that the community needed to work together to solve the problem.
Isabela 演講的要點是：社區需要團結合作來解決問題。
the sum of + noun (speech/argument/idea)
If you want the sum of the report, it simply says the river is clean enough to swim in now.
如果你想要那份報告的要點，簡單來說就是河水現在乾淨到可以游泳了。
The sum and substance of the novel is that kindness always wins in the end.
這本小說的核心要點就是：善良終究會獲勝。
Pim asked for the sum of the meeting since he had arrived twenty minutes late.
Pim 因為遲到了二十分鐘，所以問了會議的要點。
文法句型
the sum of + noun
the sum and substance
用法筆記
Formal in tone. The fixed phrase 'the sum and substance of' is an idiomatic expression that reinforces the meaning.
sums — 動詞
- sumspresent simple I / you / we / they
- sumses3rd person singular
- sumsing-ing form
- sumsedpast simple
1. To add numbers together to find their total amount.
加總
將數字加起來
To add numbers together to find their total amount.
The accountant summed the expenses for the month and found they were far too high.
會計師加總了該月的支出，發現金額過高。
sum + plural noun (expenses/costs/figures)
Kofi summed the numbers in his head faster than most people can with a calculator.
Kofi 用心算加總數字的速度比大多數人用計算機還快。
Before you pay at the checkout, sum the prices of all the items in your basket.
在結帳之前，先加總購物籃裡所有商品的價格。
Reuben summed the votes from each district and announced the winner of the election.
Reuben 加總了各區的選票，宣布了選舉的獲勝者。
Can you sum up these three columns of figures for me while I check the receipts?
你能不能幫我把這三欄數字加總起來，同時我來核對收據？
文法句型
sum + plural noun phrase
sum up + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often interchangeable with 'add up' in casual speech. When used with 'up', the meaning stays the same but can sound more natural in spoken English.
常見錯誤
2. To express the most important facts or ideas about something in a short, clear f
總結
簡短說出要點
To express the most important facts or ideas about something in a short, clear form.
The final paragraph sums the main argument of the essay in just three sentences.
最後一段只用三句話就總結了論文的主要論點。
sum + noun (the argument/the situation/the point)
Walid summed the situation by saying they needed more time and more money to finish.
Walid 總結了情況，說他們需要更多的時間和金錢才能完成。
Hannah summed up her years of travel experience in one short sentence for the interviewer.
Hannah 用一句簡短的話向面試官總結了她多年的旅行經歷。
The teacher asked each student to sum up what they had learned from the class project.
老師要求每位學生總結自己從課堂專題中學到了什麼。
- elaborate
to give more detail rather than less
文法句型
sum up + noun phrase
sum up + wh-clause
sum + noun phrase
用法筆記
The phrasal verb 'sum up' is far more common than 'sum' alone for this sense in both spoken and written English. The bare verb 'sum' is more formal and less frequent.