Definition

1. Adverb (used as a conjunction):
   • That makes; which totals; so the total is. A word used to introduce a concluding statement that sums up all the items or amounts just mentioned. It is equivalent to saying "that comes to," "which makes a total of," or "in total."

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Ba cái bánh, mỗi cái năm đồng, vị chi cả thảy mười lăm đồng. (Three cakes, five dong each, that makes fifteen dong in total.)
  • Năm cân, một cân, ba cân, vị chi chín cân tất cả. (Five kilograms, one kilogram, three kilograms, which totals nine kilograms altogether.)
  • Tiền xe 20 ngàn, tiền ăn 30 ngàn, vị chi là 50 ngàn. (Transportation 20 thousand, food 30 thousand, so the total is 50 thousand.)

Advanced Usage

• "vị chi là": A common extended form meaning "that means; which amounts to."
  • Một tháng tiết kiệm một triệu, mười hai tháng vị chi là mười hai triệu. (Saving one million a month, twelve months that amounts to twelve million.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tổng cộng (adv): In total, altogether. This is a more modern and common synonym.

  • Tổng cộng chúng ta có mười người. (In total, we have ten people.)

• Thành ra (conj): As a result, so that. Can sometimes be used in a similar summarizing sense.

  • Cộng tất cả lại thành ra một số tiền lớn. (Adding it all up results in a large sum of money.)

Synonyms

• That comes to: Used when calculating a sum.
• Which totals: Used to state a final amount.
• In total: A summarizing phrase for amounts.
• Altogether: Considering everything.

Notes on Usage

• Register: is considered somewhat formal, classical, or literary. It is more commonly found in writing or formal speech than in casual, everyday conversation.
• Function: It primarily serves a discursive function, signaling a conclusion or summary of a calculation or list. It often appears after listing several items or numbers.
• Structure: It typically comes at the beginning of the concluding clause, followed by the total sum or final result.

1. that makes ; the total cost is