The invention relates to a method for rapidly determining the content of total nitrogen in water by using resorcinol. The method comprises the following steps: step 1, preparing a digestion solution; weighing 10 g of sodium hydroxide solid and 40 g of potassium persulfate solid, dissolving with deionized water, and diluting to 1000 ml; 2, digesting the sample; putting 1ml of the sample into a colorimetric tube; adding 1ml of digestion solution into the colorimetric tube, controlling the digestion temperature at 105-110 DEG C, and digesting for 10 minutes; then taking out the colorimetric tube, adding 1ml of digestion solution into the colorimetric tube, and digesting at 105-110 DEG C for 5-20 minutes; 3, testing the absorbance of the sample; transferring 1.0 ml of the digested sample into a 10ml color distinguishing tube, adding 1ml of a resorcinol solution with the mass fraction of 0.5% and 3ml of concentrated sulfuric acid, and fully mixing the solution; after the sample is cooled to the room temperature, diluting to a 10ml scale line, and measuring the absorbance; and 4, comparing the absorbance of the sample with the standard curve, and checking the total nitrogen content of the sample. The digestion solution is prepared and mixed in advance, so that the digestion reaction rate is increased, the reaction is sufficient, the stability of experimental data is good, and the applicability is high.