add

Compared meaning: add numbers together to get a total (verb).

比较义项：把数字加起来算出总数（动词）。

• add 本词

  The plain, general verb for combining numbers into a total; neutral in tone and usable in almost any spoken or written context.

  最普通、最通用的“把数字加起来”的说法，语气中性，口语和书面语都常用。

  Add these three numbers together and tell me the total.

  把这三个数字加起来，告诉我总数是多少。

• sum

  More formal and mathematical, often paired with 'up'; typical in written, academic, or financial contexts rather than casual speech.

  语气更正式、更偏数学化，常与 up 连用；多见于书面、学术或财务语境，而不是日常口语。

  The accountant summed up the department's expenses for the quarterly report.

  会计把该部门的开支加总，用于季度报告。

• tot

  Informal, mainly British English; almost always used as the phrasal verb 'tot up' for quick, everyday totals like bills or scores.

  非正式，主要用于英式英语；几乎总是以 tot up 的短语动词形式出现，用来快速算出账单、比分等日常总数。

  Let's tot up the bill before we split it between everyone.

  我们先把账单加起来，再大家平摊。

Add, sum, and tot all mean adding numbers to get a total, but their tone differs. Add is the common, casual word. Sum is formal, used in writing or math. Tot is informal British English, often 'tot up'. Add's other sense is not compared here.

这三个词在“把数字加起来算出总数”这个意义上很接近，但语气和用法不同：add 最常用、最口语化，sum 更正式、偏书面或数学语境，tot 是英式口语，几乎总是搭配 up 使用。这里不比较 add 表示“把某物与另一物放在一起（如添加食材）”的意思。