sum
sum — 名詞
1. a particular quantity of money, viewed as one complete figure
款項
一筆特定的錢
a particular quantity of money, viewed as one complete figure
The company offered Tariq a large sum for his share of the business.
公司開出一大筆款項，買下 Tariq 持有的股份。
large sum — a big amount of money
Indra received a small sum from her grandmother's will.
Indra 從祖母的遺囑中收到一筆小額款項。
The charity managed to raise a tidy sum for the new hospital wing.
慈善機構為新醫院大樓募到一筆可觀的款項。
Aoi and her partner agreed to pay the outstanding sum in monthly instalments.
Aoi 和她的伴侶同意以每月分期付款的方式支付剩餘款項。
Investors put up a six-figure sum to launch the start-up.
投資者投入一筆六位數的款項來啟動這家新創公司。
文法句型
adjective + sum
sum of [money]
用法筆記
Often modified by adjectives that indicate size (large, small, tidy, undisclosed, six-figure, lump). The phrase 'lump sum' means a single payment made at once rather than in instalments.
常見錯誤
2. the single figure obtained by combining several smaller numbers through addition
總和；總數
加法運算的結果
the single figure obtained by combining several smaller numbers through addition
The sum of twelve and eight is twenty.
十二加八的總和是二十。
sum of [X] and [Y] — basic addition pattern
Putri checked her calculator to make sure the sum was correct.
Putri 檢查了計算機，確保總數沒有算錯。
The class had to find the sum of three numbers written on the board.
老師要全班算出黑板上三個數字的總和。
Otis added up the prices and wrote the total at the bottom of the receipt.
Otis 把價格加起來，在收據底部寫下最終總數。
A running total appears at the bottom of the spreadsheet showing the cumulative sum.
試算表底部有一個滾動總計，顯示累計總和。
- difference
the result of subtraction
文法句型
the sum of [numbers]
用法筆記
Frequently used in maths contexts with the pattern 'the sum of [X] and [Y]'. In everyday language, 'total' is more common outside of formal arithmetic.
常見錯誤
3. the entire amount or complete collection of separate parts, thought of as one un
全部；全體
所有部分的整體
the entire amount or complete collection of separate parts, thought of as one unit
The sum of her experience made her the best person for the job.
她全部經驗加起來，使她成為這份工作的最佳人選。
sum of [someone]'s experience — all parts combined
In sum, the project was a success despite the early problems.
總而言之，儘管初期有一些問題，這個專案還是成功了。
in sum — formal phrase meaning 'in short; considering everything'
The sum total of his belongings fit into two suitcases.
他的全部家當就裝了兩個行李箱。
Tariro believed that the sum of human knowledge should be available to everyone.
Tariro 認為人類的整體知識應該讓每個人都能取用。
The team was greater than the sum of its individual players.
這個團隊的表現優於每個球員個人能力的總和。
文法句型
the sum of [parts]
in sum
用法筆記
Common in the fixed phrase 'in sum', which introduces a concluding summary. 'Sum total' is an emphatic form that stresses completeness. The idiom 'greater than the sum of its parts' is a set expression.
常見錯誤
4. the whole of something, when that amount is surprisingly small or less than expe
全部（量少）
出乎意料少的總量
the whole of something, when that amount is surprisingly small or less than expected
That ten-minute lesson was the sum of his training for the race.
那十分鐘的課程就是他為比賽所做的全部訓練。
the sum of [someone]'s training — the only preparation received
A quick glance was the sum of the attention Nadia gave to the report.
Nadia 對那份報告只快速瞄了一眼，這就是她給的全部關注。
A bowl of rice was the sum of their food for the whole day.
一碗飯就是他們一整天的全部食物。
Is that really the sum of what you learned in the course?
你在這門課學到的就真的只有這些嗎？
文法句型
not the sum of
the sum of [something] (small quantity)
用法筆記
This sense carries a tone of disappointment or understatement. It is almost always used to say that the total amount is surprisingly small. The pattern 'the sum of [something]' with this meaning implies 'only this and nothing more'.
5. a basic mathematics question that tests skill with the four standard operations
算術題
簡單的數字計算練習
a basic mathematics question that tests skill with the four standard operations — plus, minus, times, and divide
The children were busy doing sums in their maths books.
孩子們忙著在數學課本上做算術題。
do sums — British English for arithmetic problems
Aoi finished her sums before the rest of the class.
Aoi 在班上其他人之前就寫完了算術題。
My father helped me check my sums before I handed in the homework.
爸爸幫我檢查了算術題，我才交作業。
The test had ten sums and a few word problems.
測驗卷上有十道算術題和幾道應用題。
Some of the sums on the worksheet were quite tricky for a beginner.
練習單上有些算術題對初學者來說相當有難度。
- calculation
more general; can be simple or complex
- arithmetic problem
more explicit; used in American English
- math problem
common in American English
文法句型
do sums
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In American English, 'arithmetic problems' or 'math problems' is more common. Usually appears in the plural form 'sums'.
常見錯誤
6. the most important ideas or central meaning of a spoken or written piece, stated
要點；主旨
談話或文章的核心內容
the most important ideas or central meaning of a spoken or written piece, stated briefly
The sum and substance of her argument was that education needs more funding.
她論點的主旨是教育需要更多經費。
sum and substance — fixed phrase for 'core idea'
Christopher read the article and gave us the sum of it in two sentences.
Christopher 讀完那篇文章後，用兩句話向我們說明了要點。
The sum of the professor's lecture was that climate change affects everyone.
教授那場演講的主旨是氣候變遷影響每一個人。
Can you give me the sum of what was decided at the meeting?
你可以跟我說一下會議決定了什麼要點嗎？
文法句型
the sum and substance of [something]
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed expression 'the sum and substance' (formal). This sense overlaps with verb sense 2 (summarize). Distinguish from noun sense 3 (the whole): sense 6 is about the core meaning, not the complete collection.
sum — 動詞
1. to add together a set of figures to find their combined total
加總；總計
把數字加起來算出總數
to add together a set of figures to find their combined total
The accountant summed the expenses for the month.
會計師把當月的開銷加總起來。
Heloísa summed up the scores from all three rounds.
Heloísa 把三輪比賽的分數加總起來。
sum up — phrasal verb for calculating total
Can you sum these numbers on the calculator for me?
你可以用計算機把這些數字加總嗎？
The cashier summed the items on the receipt before asking for payment.
收銀員把收據上的商品加總後才請客人付款。
文法句型
sum [numbers]
sum up [numbers]
用法筆記
Can be used with or without 'up' ('sum the figures' / 'sum up the figures'). 'Sum up' is more common in spoken English. 'Sum' alone can sound technical or formal.
常見錯誤
2. to state the main ideas or most important facts about something in a brief and c
總結；概述
簡短陳述重點
to state the main ideas or most important facts about something in a brief and clear way
Tamar summed up the discussion in just three sentences.
Tamar 用三句話總結了整場討論。
sum up — summarize the main points
To sum up, the plan needs more work before we can move forward.
總而言之，這個計畫還需要更多努力才能繼續推進。
to sum up — introductory phrase for a summary
The final paragraph sums up everything the writer wanted to say.
最後一段總結了作者想表達的一切。
Can you sum up what the speaker said about the new policy?
你能總結一下講者對新政策的看法嗎？
Iker summed up his feelings about the trip with a single word: amazing.
Iker 用一個詞來總結他對這趟旅行的感受：太棒了。
- elaborate
to give more detail rather than less
文法句型
sum up [topic]
to sum up, [summary]
sum up what/how/why...
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'up' in this sense. The standalone verb 'sum' (without 'up') as 'summarize' is very rare in modern English. 'To sum up' is a common discourse marker at the start of a concluding statement.
常見錯誤
3. to reach a particular figure when added together; to come to a certain total
共計；總計達
加起來達到某個數字
to reach a particular figure when added together; to come to a certain total
The donations summed to over ten thousand dollars.
捐款總計超過一萬美元。
sum to [amount] — reach a particular total
The costs for the wedding summed to more than they had planned.
婚禮的花費總計超出他們的預算。
The hours she spent volunteering summed to nearly two hundred this year.
她今年擔任志工的時間總計將近兩百小時。
The company's losses summed to half a million pounds after the fire.
火災後該公司的損失總計達五十萬英鎊。
文法句型
sum to [total]
用法筆記
Always followed by 'to'. More formal than 'add up to' or 'come to'. In everyday conversation, 'comes to' is much more common (e.g. 'The bill comes to £45').