amount

Compared meaning: an amount or quantity of something (noun).

比较义项：数量（名词）。

• amount 本词

  More general and informal; typically pairs with uncountable nouns (time, money, effort) and is vague about precise measurement.

  更笼统、更口语化；通常与不可数名词（时间、金钱、精力）搭配，不强调精确的测量。

  She spent a large amount of time studying for the exam.

  她花了大量时间准备考试。

• quantity

  More formal and precise, often used with countable or measurable nouns in technical, scientific or commercial contexts.

  更正式、更精确，常与可计数或可测量的名词搭配，多用于技术、科学或商业语境。

  We need a large quantity of paper for the printing project.

  这个印刷项目我们需要大量的纸张。

Amount and quantity both mean how much of something there is, and are often interchangeable. Quantity is more formal, used for precise, countable, or measurable things. Amount is more general and informal, often used with uncountable nouns like time, money, or effort.

amount 和 quantity 在“数量”这个义项上很接近，常可互换，但 quantity 更正式、更常用于精确或可计数、可测量的语境，而 amount 更笼统、多与不可数名词搭配。这里不比较其他义项。

Compared meaning: a total amount, especially of money (noun).

比较义项：总数（用加法得出的总额）（名词）。

• amount 本词

  General word for a total quantity, often of something uncountable (time, money, effort); does not stress the act of adding, and is common with 'large/small amount of'.

  泛指总量，常用于不可数的事物（如时间、金钱、精力）；不强调相加的动作，常与“大量/少量”搭配。

  She spent a large amount of time studying for the exam.

  她花了大量时间备考。

• sum

  Specifically the number obtained by adding figures together; used for arithmetic results and money totals, often with 'add up the sum of'.

  特指把数字加起来得出的结果，多用于算术结果或金额总数，常与“算出……的总和”搭配。

  She added up the sum of all her monthly expenses.

  她把每月的支出加总算出了总和。

Both words mean a total reached by adding numbers together, but differ in focus. Sum stresses the arithmetic process of adding figures, especially money. Amount is more general, describing a quantity without stressing addition, and often modifies uncountable things like time or money.

两词都指若干数目相加后的总数，但 sum 更强调“逐项相加”的算术过程，常与钱、账目搭配；amount 更笼统，可指数量的多少，不一定强调相加的动作，也常修饰不可数的量（如时间、金钱）而非单纯的算术结果。

Compared meaning: to add up to a total amount (verb).

比较义项：总计，合计为（某数目）（动词）。

• amount 本词

  Always followed by 'to'; often used for abstract or figurative totals, suggesting something is essentially equivalent to a result rather than a simple sum.

  后面总跟“to”；常用于抽象或比喻性的总计，暗示某事“实际上等于”某种结果，而非单纯的算术相加。

  His excuse amounted to nothing more than a poor cover story.

  他的借口说穿了不过是一个拙劣的托词。

• number

  Used without 'to', typically for counting people or objects that reach a large or approximate quantity; more formal and literary in tone.

  不接“to”，通常用于清点人或物，数目较大或为约数，语气偏正式、书面化。

  The wounded soldiers numbered nearly a hundred by dusk.

  到黄昏时，受伤的士兵总计将近一百人。

• total

  Transitive and needs no 'to'; used for adding concrete figures such as money or scores to arrive at a precise sum.

  及物动词，不需要“to”；用于把具体数字（如金额、分数）相加，得出精确的总数。

  The bill at the restaurant totaled exactly eighty-seven dollars.

  这家餐厅的账单总计恰好八十七美元。

All three mean to add up to a number. Amount takes 'to' and often means something is roughly equal to a result. Number, without 'to', is formal, for large groups reaching a total. Total is transitive, needs no 'to', and adds figures like money.

这三个词都可表示“加起来达到某数目”，但语气和搭配不同：amount to 强调最终结果，常带有“实际上等于”的引申义；number 强调清点后的数目，多用于大批人或物，语气偏正式；total 强调把具体数字相加得出精确总额，常用于金额或分数。这里不比较 amount 作名词“数量”、number 作名词“数字、号码”及作动词“编号”、total 作形容词“全部的”或名词“总数”的用法。