总得

have to

→ 总
phrase Common #4,649
have to Emphasizes that something is necessary or unavoidable; depending on context, it can also suggest “eventually” or “after all.”
CH: 我们总得吃点东西吧。
EN: We have to eat something, right?

我们不能空手去人家家里做客总得带点什么

We can’t show up at someone’s house empty-handed; we should always bring something.

— 幸福的拉扎罗 (2018)

但我们总得做点什么

But we have to do something.

— 回归 (2006)

家珍,这事总得过去吧?

Jiazhen, we have to move past this eventually, right?

— 活着 (1994)

不过总得有个

But there has to be one, at least.

— 办公室的故事 (1977)

总得加点儿

You’ve got to add a little something.

— 洗澡 (1999)

你总得把故事背景交代一下吧

You have to provide some background to the story, at least.

— 妈咪 (2014)

我总得找点事情打发时间

I need to find something to pass the time.

— 2046 (2004)

总得去试试

You’ve got to give it a try.

— 梦幻之地 (1989)

每次一句话总得和你重复几百遍这事儿咱之前可没说好

Having to repeat the same thing to you hundreds of times every time is not what we agreed to.

— 妈咪 (2014)

反正她们总得吃饭。

They have to eat anyway.

他们夜里来,可总得睡睡觉的!

They come at night, but they still have to get some sleep!

— 飞向太空 (1972)

那怎么行啊…总得让我听听孩子的声音啊?

How could you do that...? You’ve got to let me hear my child’s voice, at least, don’t you?

— 密阳 (2007)

总得有人去告诉他妻子。

Someone has to go tell his wife.

人活着嘛总得拼一次

You only live once, so you’ve got to go all out at least once.

— 热辣滚烫 (2024)

但你总得回来吧?

But you’ll come back eventually, right?

— 勇往直前 (2004)

我已经够有耐心了,他提醒他们,但总得有个时候把事情说清楚。

“I’ve been patient enough,” he reminded them, “but at some point, we need to get things straight.”

那总得让我尝尝

Then you have to let me try some.

— 回归 (2006)

总得有理由吧

There has to be a reason, right?

— 哭声 (2016)

我们总得找点乐子。

We’ve got to find some way to have fun.

投资前总得先把故事弄清楚吧

Before investing, you have to get the full story straight first, right?

— 红磨坊 (2001)

总得冒个险

You have to take a risk sometime.

— 上帝之城 (2002)

既然问了总得说话或者点头啊

Since they asked you, you should at least say something or nod.

— 哭声 (2016)

总得试一下

You’ve got to give it a try.

— 放牛班的春天 (2004)

等一下,你总得解释清楚啊

Wait a minute—you owe me a proper explanation.

— 机械师 (2004)

累了总得停下来

When you're tired, you have to stop and rest.

— SoulMate (2016)

一生总得冒一次险

You have to take a risk at least once in your life.

— 莫斯科不相信眼泪 (1980)

阿曼达,你总得睡觉吧?

Amanda, you have to sleep sometime, right?

可我们俩总得有人要扮演妻子啊

But one of us has to play the wife.

— 小萝莉的猴神大叔 (2015)