最后

zuì hòu

HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Noun Very common

Definitions

1. final
2. last
3. finally
4. ultimate

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 最初 zuì chū 最初 zuì chū first 最初 means 'initial' or 'at first', opposite to 最后 meaning 'last'.: first

Related words

1 item

• 结束 jié shù 结束 jié shù termination 结束 is a verb meaning 'to end', related to the concept of 'last' or 'final'.: termination

Synonyms

1 item

• 最终 zuì zhōng 最终 zuì zhōng final; ultimate When referring to the end result of a process, 最终 and 最后 are near-synonyms, but 最终 is more formal.: final; ultimate

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Learners often confuse 最后 (last) with 最近 (recently). Remember: 最后 is about sequence, 最近 is about recency.

Formality

In formal writing, 最后 is neutral, but 最终 can sound more conclusive and emphatic.

Example Sentences

5 shown

最后 ，我们决定不去。

Finally, we decided not to go.

最后 那句话是画龙点睛之笔。

That final sentence was the finishing touch that brought it all to life.

中国 最后 一个皇帝是溥仪。

The last emperor of China was Puyi.

他们 最后 投降了。

They finally surrendered.

他在比赛 最后 阶段开始冲刺。

He started to sprint in the final stage of the race.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 最后

• 压死骆驼的最后一根稻草 压死骆驼的最后一根稻草 yā sǐ luò tuo de zuì hòu yī gēn dào cǎo: the straw that broke the camel’s back (idiom)
• 最后一天 最后一天 zuì hòu yī tiān: final day
• 最后晚餐 最后晚餐 zuì hòu wǎn cān: the Last Supper (in the biblical Passion story)
• 最后期限 最后期限 zuì hòu qī xiàn: deadline
• 最后的晚餐 最后的晚餐 zuì hòu de wǎn cān: the Last Supper (in the Christian Passion story)
• 最后通牒 最后通牒 zuì hòu tōng dié: ultimatum
• 谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好 谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好 shéi xiào dào zuì hòu , shéi xiào dé zuì hǎo: He laughs best who laughs last.
• 谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好 谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好 shéi xiào zài zuì hòu , shéi xiào dé zuì hǎo: He laughs best who laughs last.

Child Words of 最后

• 后 后 hòu: empress
• 最 最 zuì: most