到头来

dào tóu lái

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Adverb Uncommon

Save to list

Definitions

1. in the end
2. finally
3. as a result

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial · $49.99 / year

Sign up with Google

Did Google show an error? Sorry about that. Use your email below instead.

Continue with Email

Lifetime for $119.99 Try a practice session

Word relationships

Related words

2 items

• 结果 jié guǒ 结果 jié guǒ outcome Can be used similarly to 'in the end', but 结果 is a noun meaning 'result' and can also function as a conjunction.: outcome
• 终于 zhōng yú 终于 zhōng yú at last Means 'finally' with an emphasis on achieving something after a long wait, often positive.: at last

Synonyms

2 items

• 最后 zuì hòu 最后 zuì hòu final Used to indicate the final outcome after a series of events or considerations, often with a sense of 'in the end' or 'ultimately'.: final
• 最终 zuì zhōng 最终 zuì zhōng final; ultimate More formal than 到头来, used for final outcomes in formal or written contexts.: final; ultimate

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Don't confuse with 到头了 (dào tóu le), which means 'to reach the limit' and is used differently.

Formality

Common in spoken Chinese to express a concluding remark or the ultimate outcome of a situation.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他说了很多理由，但 到头来 还是没去。

He gave many reasons, but in the end he still didn't go.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 到头来

• 来 来 lái: to come
• 到 到 dào: to reach; to arrive
• 头 头 tóu: head
• 到头 到头 dào tóu: to the end (of)